Absent Rory McIlroy under attack in Turkey

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.

Ahmet Agaoglu was apologetic in 2012 when chaotic scenes at the start of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final in Antalya led to scuffles with photographers and media unaccustomed to the protocol of covering golf.

One man went down and claimed he was headbutted as the golf federation president lost his patience with those who don’t play ball.