McIlroy named European Tour's Golfer of Year

Reuters
World number one and defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the fourth and final round of the Australian Open golf tournament at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney November 30, 2014. REUTERS/David Gray

LONDON (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy has been named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year for the second time in three seasons, capping an outstanding 2014 for the world number one. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman landed the British Open title in July and the U.S. PGA Championship crown in August -- the third and fourth majors of his career -- before winning three points as Europe retained the Ryder Cup in September. "To be named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year for a second time is a huge honor and one I am extremely proud of," said McIlroy who also won this season's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio. "If I had won any one of those four titles it would have been a good year but to win all four... and to be part of another fantastic European victory in the Ryder Cup means it is a great one," he added in a news release. (Reporting by Tom Hayward, editing by Tony Jimenez)