Turkey Golf Federation Head Ahmet Agaoglu apologises for ‘headbutting’ incident at World Golf finals Antalya
Turkey Golf Federation president Ahmet Agaoglu was apologetic, even remorseful for ‘headbutting’ photographer, who crossed the line literally and figuratively at the start of Turkish Airlines World Golf Final in Antalya, right before Tiger Woods’ opening match.
Antalya Golf Final, Turkey / NationalTurk – Ahmet Agaoglu, the president of the Turkish Golf Federation today apologised for the travesty, that golf community very rarely experiences, with a Turkish journalist from Cihan News Agency and daily Zaman both run by Fethullah Güven the Turkish imam in exile in America. Agaoglu headbutted the ignorant cameraman who overstepped his boundries firmly. The headbutting incident which threatened to overshadow the highly anticipated Turkish Airlines World Golf final in Antalya and the creation of a new $7 million tournament on the European Tour.
Turkey Golf Federation President Ahmet Agaoglu is from Northern Anatolia, a region renown for its population’s quick tempers. He says sorry for the fracas at the Antalya World Golf Final
Ahmet Agaoglu held a press conference and revealed today that the Turkish Open Golf will be staged for the next 3 years, with a 78-man field competing for the massive prize fund the week before the season-ending Dubai Golf World Championship.
Turkey promotes for 2020 Olympics full gear hoping fading names like Tiger Woods help in it !
Turkish Airlines World Golf final in Antalya is part of continuing attempts to promote Turkey as a golfing destinationand a haven for golf tourism and boost Turkey’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics, with organisers having persuaded global golf icons like Tiger Woods and McIlroy to compete in the Turkish Open after enjoying this week’s event.
However it was an unsavoury incident before Tiger Woods’ opening match with Charl Schwartzel in Antalya yesterday which brought today’s apology from Ahmed Agaoglu, who had been accused of headbutting a cameraman amid chaotic scenes on the first tee.
‘ ‘Some of the cameramen and photographers were in front of Tiger’s line and they had been warned several times by the course marshals,” Agaoglu noted
Turkish Journalists : Are they pushy and ignorant and do they deserve a good headbutting ?
”They didn’t leave their places and naturally the security people pushed them. Probably they didn’t like it and they started shouting to the security guys. ”I was there explaining this is not like other sports – while Messi is going to take a penalty you cannot go into the six-yard area to take a picture – and while saying this there was a reaction saying ‘You cannot push us back, you cannot shout at us’. In Turkey cameramans are pushed and shouted at very often but usually they deserve it.
”I was being pushed by one of them and pushed them back as well, the poor sod (Turkish journalist Cihat Unal) was in the wrong place in the wrong time.”
Ahmed Agaoglu points out the reasons behing headbutting travesty at Antalya Golf Final
”While organising such tournaments I shouldn’t have to be there, but I am trying to make everything so perfect. It was unlucky it happened and I will given a written apology because one way or another it was not nice.
”He stumbled back and I was almost going to fall over him.”Asked if the Turkish police would be involved in the travesty, Agaoglu added: ”We will solve it, it’s not a big issue and I’m sorry such kind of things happened.”
The inaugural Turkish Open will take place from November 7-10 next year on the Colin Montgomerie-designed course at the Maxx Royal resort in Antalya, with Tiger Woods ”available at the moment” to play, says the Golf promoter Chubby Chandler.
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