The end-of-season awards continue to roll in for Rory McIlroy, who has won the Golf Writers Trophy and the Global Golf Post Player of the Year award.
The Northern Irishman finished 2012 as World Number One after another magnificent season which yielded victories in the US PGA Championship and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the final event of The European Tour International Schedule.
He won The Race to Dubai with record earnings and also topped the US PGA Tour Money List.
The 23 year old topped the poll for the Golf Writers Trophy, ahead of Englishmen Ian Poulter and Roger Chapman, as well as the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team.
McIlroy said: “The 2012 season was a superb one for every aspect of European golf and that comes across when you look at the names of the players in contention for the Golf Writers Trophy this year. Therefore to come out on top of that list is a great honour.
“Throughout the year, wherever we play, the golf writers are there helping to promote our sport and give a voice to golf, and I am delighted to win their award. I hope to give them plenty more good things to write about in 2013.”
While McIlroy earned almost 50 percent of the first-place votes, the poll reflected the range of achievements by European golfers in 2012. McIlroy also claimed a share of second place as a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup Team. Captained by José María Olazábal and inspired by the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe engineered a thrilling comeback from 10-4 down to win by a single point at Medinah Country Club.
Poulter was one of the key architects of the comeback as he made five birdies in a row to win a vital fourball match alongside McIlroy on Saturday evening. Once again showing his passion for team competition, the Englishman won all four of his matches at Medinah and went on to win his second World Golf Championship title at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Chapman, 53, enjoyed a fairy-tale season, winning the Senior US PGA Championship and the US Senior Open, a double only achieved by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin. Chapman ended the year by clinching the John Jacobs Trophy as winner of the European Senior Tour Order of Merit.
Great Britain and Ireland won the Curtis Cup for the first time in 16 years and made history at Nairn by bringing all four of the main transatlantic trophies – Ryder, Solheim, Walker and Curtis Cups – to Europe for the first time. Under captain Tegwen Matthews, GB&I recovered from losing all three matches in the opening session and still trailed heading into the singles but went on to seal a one-point victory.
Voted by members of the Association of Golf Writers and dating back to 1951, the award recognises the most outstanding achievements during the year of golfers born or resident in Europe and European teams. This is the fourth time in the last six years the trophy has crossed the Irish Sea with Padraig Harrington winning in 2007 and 2008, and Graeme McDowell in 2010.
To read this week's edition of Global Golf Post, clickhere
