Ryder Cup hero and three-time Major winner is second which leaves...

Super mum Jo Pavey comes third after a fabulous year on the track.

The time has come to learn who has become 2014 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It will be one of 10, but who has captured the British public's heart the most? Whose name will join the likes of Sebastian Coe, Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Steve Redgrave?

"I became a dad eight weeks ago," Sir Chris Hoy informs the crowd, and the audience cheers wildly. "He was in hospital for eight weeks and finally came out last week and we got him home." More cheers and whistles. Sir Chris Hoy has them in the palm of their hands. "I'm sure he'll be watching it on telly just now."

Judy Murray
GB Fed Cup tennis captain on BBC Radio 5 live

"I think he's just incredible. His achievements are awesome. He's a great ambassador for Scotland. He had a tartan suit on and he was rocking it. He's the perfect gent, a great guy. He can converse with everyone. He's a great role model."

Tempest Devyne:, external What? me? Crying at Sir Chris Hoy getting the lifetime achievement award....you betcha

Tom Howells:, external Yes, Chris Hoy, massively deserved.

Sir Chris Hoy attempts to hold back the tears, but he's failing. Prince Harry presents the Olympian with the Lifetime Achievement award and salty tears appear. "It's very hard not to get emotional when you hear amazing words from people you respect and get this amazing reception," says Hoy, receiving a rousing reception on home turf.

And let's not forget, Sir Chris stopped the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony from descending into further face by stepping in to help Pricne Imran of Malaysia to open a baton. It's worth watching again. And again. And again.

Picking up medals and trophies is, of course, old hat for new dad Sir Chris, whose wife Sarra Kemp gave birth to a baby boy in October 11 weeks early. Anyway, the Scot retired from competitive cycling in 2013 with six Olympic gold medals.

You may, or may not remember, he was the first British Olympian for 100 years to claim three golds at one Games, at Beijing in 2008.

Has he ever won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award? For sure. In 2008.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sir Chris Hoy, Britain's most successful Olympian, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, adding his name to a list of winners which includes Sir Steve Redgrave and Seve Ballesteros.

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 live

"I think Lewis Hamilton will win. But I want Jo Pavey to win. Wouldn't that be great?"

Judy Murray
GB Fed Cup tennis captain on BBC Radio 5 live

"McIlroy, Hamilton and Pavey for me."

Violinist Nicola Benedetti plays the Bonnie Banks O'Loch Lomond as we reach a sombre part of the show, remembering those who have died during the year. It's a fitting tribute for those who are no longer with us.

It's a rather cheerless presentation ceremony as Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale presents Cristiano Ronaldo with his award in a makeshift studio. "Thank you BBC for choosing me and to my old fans in England. Thank you very much, have a good night."

Image source, BBC Sport

World player of the year, Champions League winner, 281 goals in 267 games for Real Madrid, 25 hat-tricks for his club, 31.6m Twitter followers. Best player in the world? Arguably so. Best player ever? Potentially so. And he's generous, too, buying each of his team-mates £6,500 watches to commemorate Real winning their 10th Champions League title.

It's time to flex the pectoral muscles (if you have any) in admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

Voting is now closed so don't ring or vote online as it won't count. You will now have to wait for the number-crunchers to tot up the votes and bring us the results.

"I would like to thank the RFU and Sport England and our friends and family and to everybody at home, this is a massive turning point for women's sport," says captain Katy McLean.

Image source, BBC Sport

This week they were awarded Freedom of Rugby Borough for winning the Women's Rugby World Cup and now England's women are BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year. England's team of teachers, vets, physios and plumbers beat Canada 21-9 in August, ending a run of three successive final defeats in the tournament. Up they step on stage to collect another prize.

Scottish sporting greats Gordon Strachan and Sir Jackie Stewart walk on stage with the Team of the Year trophy, which must mean it's time to announce the Team of the Year.