Paul McGinley capped a memorable 2014 by winning Coach of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Glasgow, in recognition of his outstanding captaincy of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles, while Rory McIlroy narrowly missed out on yet another accolade.
McGinley oversaw Europe’s 16½-11½ triumph over the United States in September, a sixth success in the last seven meetings, with meticulous planning and execution.
Widely applauded for his innovative and in-depth approach to the role by his players and the media alike, the Irishman was understandably delighted to receive the award, which was decided on by a panel of experts.
“I’m very, very honoured,” he said. “First and foremost I want to thank the people of Scotland for your support during the event. I also want to say I had twelve great players, twelve great personalities and a wonderful backroom team from the European Tour.
“The caddies too, but most importantly my vice-captains - Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jiménez, José María Olazábal, Des Smyth and Scotland’s own Sam Torrance.”
McGinley pipped Bill Furniss of GB swimming, boxer Carl Froch’s coach and Gary Street of England women’s rugby, to the prestigious award.
McIlroy meanwhile, one of his captain's stars at Gleneagles, finished second to Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton in the public vote in his category, as he looked to become the first golfer since Nick Faldo 25 years ago, to win the esteemed award.
Finishing runner-up will be an unfamiliar feeling for a man who won the 2014 Race to Dubai, after a superb season in which he took his haul of Major titles to four, won a World Golf Championship and the BMW PGA Championship for the first time.
His Major titles at The Open Championship and the US PGA Championship, which both came in the space of a glorious month for the Northern Irishman, saw the 25 year old become the third youngest player in history – after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – to win three of golf’s four Major Championships.
The world’s best player has already been named Player of the Year by his peers on the PGA Tour, the PGA of America, and the Association of Golf Writers as well SJA Sportsman of the Year by the Sports Journalists' Association earlier this week.
McIlroy and golf fans around the world will be hoping for more of the same in the 2015 season, as this affable young man looks to continue making his mark on the world of sport, and in particular, the game of golf.
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