McIlroy crowns glorious year with royal seal of approval

RORY MCILROY has ended a glorious year with another prize after being awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman has been recognised six months after pulling off one of the sport’s greatest performances to win the US Open.

McIlroy claimed the second major of the year at Congressional by an astounding eight shots in a tournament record score of 16 under-par 268.