Mcilroy calls SPOTY a ‘popularity contest’ as he prepares to defend title at Desert Classic

Rory Mcilroy has tagged the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award as a “popularity contest” after revealing that he had “forgot” being nominated for the 2023 prize.

The Northern Irishman made the list for the main accolade in last month’s awards ceremony in Manchester after winning the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai title for a fifth time and also producing his best-ever Ryder Cup performance in Europe’s win in Rome.

Despite being in the UK a couple of days earlier to take in the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield, Mcilroy decided not to attend the BBC ceremony and was the only nominee who did not speak on the night.

Bidding to become the first golfer to win the award since Nick Faldo in 1989, the fourtime major winner did not finish in the top three as top spot went to England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Asked about the relevance of the Sports Personality of the Year as he prepared to defend his title in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, Mcilroy admitted: “Actually, whenever the results were announced, I forgot I was nominated. So that's how much I think about it. It’s a popularity contest. It’s not what it once was.”

Would he consider turning up if he made the list again by winning The Masters at some stage in the future to become just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam? “That’s hypothetical,” he insisted. “Depends what my chances were of winning it, I guess.”

A few days after partly letting victory slip from his grasp in the inaugural Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek,Mcil roy is relishing a chance to land a record breaking fourth title triumph in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Echoing a view that has been expressed by lots of others in the field for the opening Rolex Series event of the new season, the defending champion said of the Majlis Course: “It’s the best shape I’ve seen it in quite awhile. I think the course set up is wonderful. i think it’ s quite penal off the tee. The greens are starting to get firm already. The putting surfaces are perfect. It’s very good.”