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Rory McIlroy named European Tour Golfer of the Year for second time

Rory McIlroy holds the famous claret jug after winning The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July
Image: Rory McIlroy holds the famous claret jug after winning The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July.

Rory McIlroy has added another prestigious award to his fast-growing collection after being named Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2014.

The world No 1 was a dominant force worldwide over the last 12 months, winning five times including two major titles as well as his first World Golf Championship.

McIlroy enjoyed his most stunning run of form during July and August, when he followed up his Open Championship victory at Hoylake with wins at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

The 25-year-old comfortably wrapped up the PGA Tour Money List title and was a stand-out winner of the PGA Player of the Year award, and he was crowned Race to Dubai champion a week ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Such was his dominance on the European Tour, he finished the season over two million euros ahead of Henrik Stenson in the Race to Dubai standings as he became the first player to twice win the Money List titles on both main Tours in the same season.

McIlroy also played a pivotal role in Europe retaining the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, and his singles victory over Rickie Fowler was one of the greatest performances in the history of the competition.

His first notable victory of the year came at the BMW PGA Championship – the flagship event on the European Tour – when he fired a closing 66 to clinch a one-shot win after starting the final round seven shots off the lead.

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Unanimous choice

McIlroy was named European Tour Golfer of the Month in May, July and August, and he was a unanimous choice for the yearly award by a panel comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers and commentators from television and radio – including Sky Sports News HQ golf correspondent James Haddock.

“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,” said McIlroy, the youngest player in history to win the accolade twice.

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
Rory McIlroy

“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.”

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady added: “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 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.

Ambassador

“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, the chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, 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.

“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.”

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
James Haddock

Haddock added: “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 comebacks 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.”

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