World No. 1 Rory McIlroy could not have picked a tougher year if he is to be awarded the title – BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
In a year when Great Britain dominated the 2012 Olympics, Bradley Wiggins became the first Brit to win the Tour de France and Andy Murray captured a first Grand Slam title, McIlroy’s second Major Championship success could be overlooked when the judges sit down to decide of the winner
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy captures a second Major but will it be good enough to secure BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Team GB’s Olympics and Paralympics success means there is bound to be a dash of London 2012 in the eventual shortlist: Mo Farah slapping his head in disbelief; Jessica Ennis smothering herself in the Union Jack; David Weir roaring over the line with his top torn open.
Murray’s U.S. Open and Olympics victory makes him second favourite according to bookmakers Ladbrokes. If only he’d won at Wimbledon when most of the sport watching public were actually awake. Still, his teary-eyed thanks to the crowd after the final hints at another acceptance speech classic if he does take the title.
And then there’s Wiggins, Tour de France winner, Olympic champion, sideburns aficionado, and the most personable of sporting personalities. He’s still the bookmakers’ favourite, and with cycling’s dirty history laid bare once again with the Lance Armstrong scandal, perhaps it would be fitting to celebrate someone who has reached the summit and stayed clean doing it.
Here’s the shortlist of favouries.
