McGinley Wins with McIlroy Runner Up

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.

Related articles

• Paul McGinley Leads Rio Golfers
• Mcginley handed olympics role
• Lewis Hamilton named BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• Hamilton pips McIlroy to Sports Personality of the Year
• McGinley to lead Irish golf team at Rio Olympics
• Gareth Bale misses out to Lewis Hamilton in BBC Sports Personality Award

McIlroyTargets BBC SPOTY

Rory McIlroy is one of ten contenders for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, hoping to become the first golfer to win the award since Sir Nick Faldo in 1989.

The winner will be chosen through a public vote on Sunday night, with fans casting their vote over the phone and online via the BBC Website. 

Earlier this week Graeme McDowell came out in support of his countryman and at the end of a year many experts are calling the greatest in the history of European golf, the public recognition for the best golfer in world would cap a phenomenal campaign.

Derek Lawrenson and Jamie Corrigan, two of the most authoritative voices in our sport as golf correspondents of the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph respectively, today gave their views on why McIlroy should win.

Rory McIlroy can drive golf into new era with SPOTY win – Read more on telegraph.co.uk

Favourite for the BBC's Sports Personality Award, Rory McIlroy reflects on his year: I want to win it for golf... the sport is in trouble and I can boost it like Tiger did Read more on dailymail.co.uk

It would be big for golf, wouldn’t it?’ said McIlroy. ‘Growing up in a sports-mad household, it was certainly a programme I always watched. It was a chance to see some of the greats of British sport being honoured. So I’m really pleased to be part of the conversation.

‘I think when you look at the names of the winners it’s understandable why it has been a while since a golfer has won. We’ve had great footballers like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, we’ve had the cyclists, the Olympics in 2012 and Andy Murray winning Wimbledon.

‘Having said that, this would be a great time for a golfer to win. If the wider public see a golfer doing his stuff on a programme like this, it might spark a greater interest.

‘Of course, there will always be interest in golf. But it might give it an injection of excitement, like it had in the mid-90s with Faldo and Seve, or when Tiger came along.”

Related articles

• Rory McIlroy Has a New Girlfriend? Caroline Wozniacki Out, Sasha Gale In
• Five of the best-paid jobs you can do after your GCSEs
• Athlete Sponsorship: Not Just For Superstars
• A question of leadership
• Rory McIlroy wins Golf Writers' Trophy after claiming two majors and Ryder Cup victory
• Only McIlroy knows how good he can be, says McDowell

McIlroy Shortlisted for BBC SPOTY

Rory McIlroy is a strong favourite to round off the most successful spell of his career with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after being confirmed among the 10 shortlisted contenders on Monday.

McIlroy, who won the final two majors of the year as well as helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup, will bid to become the first golfer to win the prestigious award since Nick Faldo in 1989.

But McIlroy could face a stern challenge from Lewis Hamilton, who claimed his second Formula One world title in Abu Dhabi at the weekend and finished second in the voting in both 2007 and 2008.

The winner of the award will be announced at the culmination of the live show on December 14 at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, following a public vote.

But Scottish fans will have no local favourite to support after last year's winner Andy Murray was left off the final contenders following a year in which he failed to add to his twocareer grand slam titles.

Gareth Bale is the only footballer to make the cut after an impressive first season with Real Madrid, while boxer Carl Froch also earns a place after his conclusive Wembley rematch win over George Groves.

Olympic and World Cup skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold is joined by skiers Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans, who were crowned Great Britain's first Winter Paralympic champions when they won the women's visually-impaired Super G in Sochi in March.

Charlotte Dujardin, who picked up two dressage world titles this year, and Jo Pavey, whose 10,000m gold in Zurich made her the oldest female European champion in history at the age of 40 and 325 days, take the total list of female contenders to four.

The list is completed by gymnast Max Whitlock, who won world, European and Commonwealth medals in 2014, and swimmer Adam Peaty, who won four European titles and two Commonwealth Games golds.

The shortlist was decided by a panel of former nominees, newspaper sports editors and television sport executives.

Related articles

• Rory McIlroy favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• Spoty contenders announced
• World champ Hamilton nominated for BBC award
• World champion Hamilton nominated for BBC award
• Sports Personality 2014 contenders
• Rory McIlroy and Kelly Gallagher go head to head for BBC sports prize

McIlroy Joins BBC SPOTY Shortlist

Getty Images

World and European Number One Rory McIlroy has reacted with pride to the news that he is the only non-Olympian to earn a place on the 12-strong shortlist for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

As expected, stars of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games dominate the list, while five female athletes have made the cut in contrast to last year's controversial all-male shortlist.

McIlroy, who won his second Major title this year and finished top of both the Race to Dubai and US money list, said: "I am delighted to be nominated again for Sports Personality of the Year.

"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."

McIlroy is joined on the shortlist by Nicola Adams, who made history by becoming the first Olympic women's boxing champion when she floored world number one Ren Cancan en route to a memorable points win in London.

Adams told the Press Association: "I didn't expect to be nominated, let along make the short list. There are so many big names on the list, and so many others who didn't make it, that I am just happy to be part of it.

"I have watched Sports Personality of the Year for years and I never once thought I would be part of it. I would have been happy enough with my gold medal. Everything that is happening now is just a bonus."

Katherine Grainger's British rowing team-mates reacted with delight to the news that Grainger, whose double sculls gold medal with Anna Watkins came on the back of three consecutive Olympic silvers, had also made a cut.

In a joint statement they said: "We are very proud that Katherine has made the shortlist, representing not only the rowing team but women in sport. She has given so much to her team and country that it is brilliant she is being recognised in this way."

Cyclist Bradley Wiggins is the bookmakers' odds-on favourite after his historic triumph in the Tour de France and gold in the Olympic time trial, ahead of Mo Farah, double gold medallist in the 5,000metres and 10,000m.

Andy Murray, who became the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title for 76 years when he triumphed in the US Open and also won an Olympic gold for good measure, is ranked third favourite with the bookies just ahead of Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.

David Weir is one of three Paralympians on the list, the four-time London gold medallist joined by another four-time London Paralympic champion, cyclist Sarah Storey, and swimmer Ellie Simmonds

Barbara Slater, the director of BBC Sport who chaired the shortlisting panel, admitted that having to leave out so many big names had been painful.

Slater said in a BBC blog: "We had already extended the shortlist for the main award this year from 10 to 12, but at times we all wished it was nearer 15 or 20.

"It was very difficult to leave off Olympians and Paralympians of the calibre of Charlotte Dujardin, Alistair Brownlee, Jade Jones, Sophie Christiansen, Laura Trott, Jonnie Peacock, Jason Kenny and Victoria Pendleton, to name just a few."

The expert panel included national newspaper sports editors and three former award nominees, Sir Steve Redgrave, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Denise Lewis.

The panel also selected the winners of the coach of the year, team of the year and overseas personality.

The main award will be chosen by public vote and announced at the Sports Personality of the Year show from London's ExCeL centre on December 16.

Shortlist (in alphabetical order): Nicola Adams (Olympic boxing), Ben Ainslie (Olympic sailing), Jessica Ennis (Olympic heptathlon), Mo Farah (Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m), Katherine Grainger (Olympic rowing), Sir Chris Hoy (Olympic cycling), Rory McIlroy (world number one golfer and USPGA champion), Andy Murray (Olympic tennis and US Open champion), Ellie Simmonds (Paralympic swimming), Sarah Storey (Paralympic cycling), David Weir (Paralympic wheelchair athlete), Bradley Wiggins (Olympic cycling and Tour de France winner).

Related articles

• Wiggins is favourite for Sports Personality of the Year
• Sports Personality of the Year 2012: the nominees
• BBC Sports Personality shortlist: Mo Farah says he's sportsman of the year
• Celebrating a stellar year: BBC Sports Personality of the Year features bumper shortlist
• Bradley Wiggins the favourite in BBC award shortlist of stellar quality
• Mo Farah: Sportsman of the year? That would be me says (not so) modest Mo as BBC Sports Personality shortlist is unveiled