WORLD NUMBER ONE Rory McIlroy is the 2/9 favourite for the 2014 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after the shortlist of 10 was released.

Golfer McIlroy is joined by Lewis Hamilton (3/1), Gareth Bale (25/1) and athlete Jo Pavey (33/1) on the list.

The 25-year old won back-to-back Majors this year and returned to world number one thanks to a run of three tournament wins in a row.

The County Down golfer was also the leading money winner on the PGA Tour and won the European Tour Order of Merit.

Northern Ireland’s Paralympic skier Kelly Gallagher (100/1) is also among the 10 nominated following her gold medal exploits in the Super-G even in Sochi in March.

Gymnast Max Whitlock, swimmer Adam Peaty, Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton), Carl Froch (boxing) and Charlotte Dujardin (dressage) complete the list.

The winner will be announced on 14 December with voting open to the public on the night.

Barry McGuigan (1985) and Tony McCoy (2010) are previous winners of the award.

- First published 24 November.

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