Four years after apologising for allegedly headbutting a photographer, the Turkish Golf Federation president has given Rory McIlroy both barrels for skipping the $7m Turkish Airlines Open.

Turkey might be nominally bidding for the 2022 Ryder Cup — their true target is 2026 — but what was once a huge empire is determined to become a major power again with golf and tourism at the top of the agenda.

Tiger Woods enjoyed a more serene start to his round today as the Turkish Golf Airlines World Golf Final resumed following an eventful opening day.