Rory McIlroy has been revealed as one of six sportspeople to have been shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023.
In a year where he won two tournaments, both of them on the DP World Tour, the current world second highest ranked golfer is up against a list that also includes England cricketer Stuart Broad and Italian-born jockey Frankie Dettori, two titans of their respective sports that bowed out this year after registering some of the best performances of their careers.
McIlroy enjoyed a solid if unspectacular year by his own high standards, winning four out of five points in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory in Rome, securing 13 top-10 finishes in 18 starts on the PGA TOUR, along with victories in the Scottish Open and the Dubai Desert Classic, and a fifth DP World Tour Race to Dubai title.
Back in 2012, a year in which he was world no.1 and had won both The Open Championship and the PGA Championship, and been part of the Ryder Cup’s ‘Miracle at Medinah’, McIlroy still lost out to Lewis Hamilton for the award, so his chances of bagging the top spot this time around seem slim.
Votes can be cast by phone or online on the evening of December 19, when the BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be live on BBC1 from 7pm. The number to call for each contender will be revealed during the programme.
2023 BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST
Stuart Broad (Cricket)
Frankie Dettori (Horse Racing)
Mary Earps (Football)
Alfie Hewett (Wheelchair Tennis)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Athletics)
Rory Mcllroy (Golf)
OTHER SPOTY AWARDS
World Sport Star of the Year
Helen Rollason Award
Young Sports Personality of the Year
Unsung Hero
Coach of the Year
Team of the Year
Lifetime Achievement award