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McIlroy after winning the DP World Golf Championship in Dubai last month. Kamran Jebreili/AP/Press Association Images
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McIlroy named European Golfer of the Year

The 23-year-old world number ended the year in style at an awards ceremony in London today.

RORY MCILROY HAS capped off a fantastic season by being named European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2012.

The 23-year-old, who has finished the campaign as world number one for the first time, won the Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour Money List while earning his second major by clinching the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island back in August.

McIlroy was also an important member of the European team who were victorious in this year’s Ryder Cup and won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last month.

In London’s Lancaster Hotel today, the Holywood native picked up the award, which is judged by a panel of prominent golf journalists.

“Everyone who knows me knows how special the 2012 season was,” said McIlroy on Europeantour.com. “A couple of wins, including a Major, and consistent performances in big events all helped me win The Race to Dubai for the first time.

To win that was a massive highlight of an amazing season, and I hope it will be the first of many. Now, to have been named as The European Tour Golfer of the Year puts the icing on the cake.

“It is a very special honour indeed and you only need to look down the list of players who have preceded me as the winner of this award to see precisely why – quite simply, it is a Who’s Who of golf and I’m delighted to now be a part of that in the history books.”

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