Rory McIlroy has been backed to become the first golfer in a quarter of a century to win the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award tonight.
The Northern Irishman is one of ten contenders for the honour, which is decided by a public 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.
McIlroy’s credentials have also been backed by three former European Ryder Cup Captains, who feel he would be a worthy winner of the prestigious award after an incredible year.
Sam Torrance, who witnessed McIlroy’s performance at The 2014 Ryder Cup as one of Paul McGinley’s vice captains, said: “I think Rory should win it, even though Lewis Hamilton had a fantastic year. Rory played some extraordinary golf all year, winning two Majors. He has been World Number One and he looks like a World Number One, so I would love to see him win it. Vote for Rory!”
Colin Montgomerie said: “It would be great for golf and great for British golf if he did win it. What a summer he had, to win the BMW PGA Championship, The Open Championship followed the US PGA Championship, with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in the middle. He has been by far the best player in the world, and I feel he will push on to bigger and better things next year.
“It would be a real honour for him to win the Sports Personality Award, and he would be a very deserving winner.”
Ian Woosnam added: “Rory has had a great year, winning two Majors and four titles overall, so I think he would be a deserving winner of the award. It’s been a long time since a golfer won it, so it would be great if he did and we wish him good luck.”
Meanwhile,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, have offered 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.”
Europe's Ryder Cup Team will also be in contention for the Team of the Year award, which is decided by a panel of experts, rather than a public vote.
For details on the other contenders and how to vote, visit the BBC Sport Website here
