World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is the latest star to indicated he will not be present for the naming of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards later this month.

Wolrd No. 1 Rory McIlroy turns down the BBC Sports Pesonality of the Year award for a second year running. (Photo – Jenny Matthews/www.golffie.ie)

The 23-year old is the only non-Olympian to make the 12-strong shortlist after a year where he won his second Major and topped the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic.

But after finishing his season with victory in Dubai last weekend McIlroy tweeted from holiday in the United States with his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki that he will not be present in London on December 16th for the awards.

Instead McIlroy will be travelling with Wozniacki who is competing in a series of exhibition matches in prepartion for next January’s first Grand Slam title of 2013 – the Australian Open in Melbourne.

However after his nomination was announced, the Ryder Cup star said: “It is a real honour to be nominated two years in a row. With it being an Olympic year, and with so many outstanding achievements in British sport in 2012, the voting is sure to go right down to the wire.”

Gold medal tennis champion Andy Murray will also miss the BBC’s celebration as he will be in Miami and also getting ready for the Australian Open.

However it may not matter whether McIlroy or Murray are present as Tour de France Bradley Higgins is the red hot favourtie to win the coveted title.