Rory McIlroy wins European Tour Player of Year award

McIlroy has won the European Player of the Year trophy twice in the last three years

Rory McIlroy has added to his trophy collection for 2014 by picking up the European Tour Golfer of the Year award.

The world number one from Northern Ireland, 25, won the BMW PGA Championship before back-to-back majors success at the Open and US PGA.

McIlroy also won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational as he topped the Race to Dubai standings and helped Europe to a Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles.

"Hopefully I can have more years like this and win the award again," he said.

McIlroy, who also won the award in 2012, added: "To be named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year for a second time is a huge honour and one I am extremely proud of.

Rory McIlroy celebrated his first Open Championship victory at Hoylake in July

"If I had won any one of those four titles it would have been a good year, but to win all four, to win The Race to Dubai, and to be part of another fantastic European victory in the Ryder Cup, means it is a great one.

"This award is a very nice way to round off the year. The European Tour has always been good to me, so it is always special to be recognised in this way."

McIlroy led the way in earnings on the US PGA Tour, becoming the first player to top the money lists on both side of the Atlantic in the same season on two occasions.

Having been named Golfer of the Month in May, July and August, he was unanimously voted the top player for 2014 and he becomes the youngest multiple winner of the coveted award.

McIlroy won the Race to Dubai crown by a dominant 2,168,410 points from Henrik Stenson, the 2013 Golfer of the Year.

Nine-times major winner Gary Player praised the achievements of McIlroy, who was runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday

The South Africa tweeted: "Congratulations on your phenomenal year and our player and personality of 2014. Now for the Grand Slam."