The European Tour righted the injustice of two days ago in naming Rory McIlroy – 2014 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year.
McIlroy’s award, after being glaringly denied BBC Sports Personality of the Year, is further recognition of his talents and in a season when he captured two Majors, a first WGC title and the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship.
McIlroy’s list of awards in 2014 already include:-
Rory McIlroy named European Tour ‘Golfer of the Year’. (Photo – Eoin Clarke’s (www.golffile.ie) world exclusive photo of Rory McIlroy holding the Claret Jug and Rodman Wanamaker Trophy)
* No. 1 ranked European Golfer of the Year.
* PGA of America ‘Golfer of the Year’.
* PGA Tour ‘Golfer of the Year’
* Association of Golf Writers (AGW) ‘Golfer of the Year’
* RTE TV (Ireland) ‘Sports Personality of the Year’.
* BBC Northern Ireland ‘Sports Personality of the Year’.
* Sports Journalists Association (SJA) ‘Sportsman of the Year’
* Harry Vardon Trophy
* Rye Memorial Medal
* Tooting Bec Cup
* James Braid Memorial Medal
* Reuters Sports – ‘Sportsman of the Year’.
Awards almost certain to head McIlroy’s way for his efforts in 2014 include:-
* Irish Golf Writers Association ‘Player of the Year’.
* Association of American Golf Writers (AGWA) ‘Golfer of the Year’
* European Tour ‘Honorary Life Membership’
* Likely New Year’s presentation by Queen Elizabeth 11 of an Order of the British Empire (OBE). McIlroy is presently the holder of an MBE.
In being named European Tour ‘Golfer of the Year’ McIlroy remarked: “To be named the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year for a second time is a huge honour and one I am extremely proud of. If I had won any one of those four titles it would have been a good year, but to win all four, to win The Race to Dubai, and to be part of another fantastic European victory in The Ryder Cup, means it is a great one.
“This award is a very nice way to round off the year. The European Tour has always been good to me, so it is always special to be recognised in this way. Hopefully I can have more years like this one and win the award again.”
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The 2014 season will go down as one of the greatest in the European Tour’s history, and it will be defined by Rory McIlroy’s astounding accomplishments on the global stage.
“Europe’s performance to retain The Ryder Cup and Martin Kaymer’s dominant victories in the US Open and Players Championship on the US PGA Tour alone would have made it a year to remember for European golf, but Rory’s victories in four of the biggest championships on our International Schedule will ensure the story of this season is retold for many years to come. Quite rightly, therefore, it is Rory who receives our Golfer of the Year Award for 2014.
“Rory is a fine ambassador for the game of golf and a loyal supporter of The European Tour, as he has shown with his backing of the Irish Open next year, so we are all very proud of his success, not only during this year but across his career to date.”
Derek Lawrenson, Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers and Golf Correspondent of The Daily Mail, said: “Having started my writing career chronicling the winning adventures of Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer, it seems amazing to consider this year the best of all for European golf.
“But given the welter of achievement, who could seriously argue? Three majors have been claimed by Europeans in the same season for the first time since the formation of The European Tour, while The Ryder Cup was won with a supremely confident swagger.
“Leading it all were two men. In America, in the space of just over a month, Martin Kaymer won the Players Championship and then the US Open at Pinehurst with arguably the best 72-hole performance of the season. He would have been a most worthy golfer of the year.
“And yet, quite incredibly, he never really got close. Rory McIlroy’s feat in winning The Open Championship, the US PGA Championship, the BMW PGA Championship and the WGC- Bridgestone Invitational, not only made him the Golfer of the Year, but the European Tour golfer of any year, for this was the best season any player born in Europe has ever enjoyed. And all the age of just 25. The Rory era has begun.”
James Haddock, Golf Reporter for Sky Sports News said: “Rory is deserving of this vote after a year where he struck fear into his opponents and began taking a grasp on golf with a season of emerging dominance.
“With an impressive tactical performance at Hoylake and gutsy fight-backs at both Wentworth and Valhalla, Rory proved he is quickly maturing into a golfer who could have a major say in this sport for a very long time to come. When you add to that his play at The Ryder Cup, where he impressed once again, it all amounted to a truly excellent year, one where his game raised up another level. It has set up a tantalising prospect for 2015.
“More than us as commentators on golf, the players themselves would rank the World Number One as Europe’s best this year, the man they all aspire to beat. Set up as the leader of a new era in golf, Rory McIlroy is without doubt The European Tour’s Golfer of the Year for 2014.”
The full list of Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month award winners in the 2014 season was: Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez (December 2013), Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher (January), France’s Victor Dubuission (February), Welshman Jamie Donaldson (March), Frenchman Alexander Levy (April), Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (May, July and August), Germany’s Martin Kaymer (June), Ireland’s Paul McGinley (September), England’s Oliver Wilson (October) and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (November).
* Thanks to www.europeantour.com
