Rory McIlroy quickly puts SPOTY behind him with European Tour Player of the Year title

There was probably no room in that trophy cabinet anyway.

Rory McIlroy's astounding 2014 won't end with the shocking disappointment that he wasn't unanimously voted as BBC's Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday night.  It will end as it mostly went about, silver-lined. The county Down man was this morning named as the European Tour Player of the Year after an unprecedented season saw him scoop two major titles, a Ryder Cup and hog the world number one spot for over 20 weeks. The 25-year-old also won the Race to Dubai as he stormed to the player of the year gong, the youngest man to have been awarded it twice and, naturally, he was happy enough with his year's work. "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," he said. "Hopefully I can have more years like this and win the award again.  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."