McIlroy: ‘Hopefully golf can build upon this’
‘To get public’s recognition is really cool,’ says Fleetwood
Moments before Rory McIlroy was named BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, and the cream of British sport rose to applaud him, a nervy thought raced through his mind. “I was, like, not an F1 driver again … ” he said.
This time, though, there was no late twist. Lando Norris was unable to emulate Lewis Hamilton, who had pipped McIlroy when the Northern Irishman was a warm favourite in 2014. And with Europe’s Ryder Cup winners also being named team of the year, a delighted McIlroy was able to reflect on a blockbuster night for him and his sport.
“This has been a great night for golf,” he said. “There’s been golfers that have been up for this award that haven’t quite done it, and I’ve been one of them. But golf was recognised in such a big way, with the team winning and then with my award. It’s a big night for golf, and hopefully we can build upon that.”
