Rory McIlroy nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year award

2014 just keeps on giving to Rory McIlroy.

As if it wasn't enough that he doubled his major's tally with two titles in the one summer, or that he clinched another Ryder Cup success or hogged the top spot of the world rankings for the entire golfing calendar.  Now, he's been nominated for a BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. The county Down man made the shortlist announced tonight alongside nine other names in the reckoning to displace Andy Murray from his throne and McIlroy will be looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow Ulster native Tony McCoy who won the title back in 2010. McIlroy faces stiff competition from Champions League winner Gareth Bale and from recently crowned Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton but he should fancy his own chances after another phenomenal year on the golfing circuit that saw him take home the PGA Championship and Open Championship as well as clean up the player of the year gongs. The nominees Gareth Bale (Football) Charlotte Dujardin (Dressage) Carl Froch (Boxing) Charlotte Evans (Skiing) Lewis Hamilton (Formula One) Rory McIlroy (Golf) Joe Pavey (Athletics) Adam Peaty (Swimming) Max Whitlock (Gymnastics) Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton)