A quick search through the pages of history would reveal that the game of golf has not had the easiest ride when it comes to the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award. There have been only two golfers who have had the opportunity to win the famous Sports World accreditation before.

However, following Matt Fitzpatrick’s omission from the nominations last year, Rory McIlroy has been included in the grand list of players with a shot to win the highly coveted award. Whatever the result, the golf world is all eyes on what’s to unfold in the coming days. McIlroy surely has a chance at making history this year if destiny prevails.

A year after Matt Fitzpatrick’s Snub, Rory McIlroy might create history

Considering golf’s misfortune throughout history when it comes to the Sports Person of the Year Award, some level of happiness was accrued when Fitzpatrick made it to the top of the leaderboard at The Open Championship in 2022. With his win, he became the second English golfer to win the British Open. It was believed that his first major win, along with his other nine top-ten finishes, would lead him to the Grand Award’s nomination.

However, the golf world’s dreams were quashed when it was revealed that Fitzpatrick did not make it to the list. This received opposition from other English professional golfers, like Tommy Fleetwood and Georgia Hall. The last golfer to win Sports Person of the Year was Sir Nick Faldo in 1989. Before him, the golf world had had the pleasure of calling this award their own. This was back in 1957 when Dai Rees won the famous award.

In their attempt to make amends, it could be suspected that the BBC has finally nominated Rory McIlroy as one of the SPOTY candidates. However, the 4x major winner’s performance this year proves these speculations wrong, as his season has been a marvelous one.

A swift comparison between Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy reveals why the latter got the nomination and the former did not. The English golfer just had one big victorious moment in 2022 as compared to the Irish golfer’s numerous big moments this season. What are this 34-year-old’s top achievements this season?

How was 2023 for Rory McIlroy?

The 2022–2023 season was filled with surprising fears for the Northern Irishman. He emerged victorious on three occasions this year. His top-most feat was at the Ryder Cup, where he helped Europe emerge victorious. On the PGA Tour this season, McIlroy won the Genesis Scottish Open with an astonishing score of 15 under par. He also won the CJ Cup in South Carolina with a score of 17-under par.

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On the European side of the game, the Northern Irishman won the Dubai Desert Classic with a master score of 19 under par. He also had fourteen other top-ten finishes. Making it an overall good year for this golf pro. Whether McIlroy will emerge victorious or not remains to be seen. Do you think that the Irish golfer will be able to recreate history in the coming days?

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