In the grand scheme of things, Rory McIlroy is hardly going to lose much sleep over losing out to Lewis Hamilton in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award last night. He will be aiming to win far bigger things in his career, like The Masters in April next year where he will aim to complete golf's Grand Slam of Majors by the age of just 25.
And Hamilton too has a world title to defend in 2015. Last night's award was a welcome bonus to him in a year when he has responded in the best possible fashion to critics.
However, Hamilton winning was the wrong result in the celebration of 2014 in sport. Let me put a few things straight first of all. I don't hate Formula One. I'm not an avid fan but I have always been a keen follower of something I wouldn't hesitate to call a sport. And Lewis Hamilton's achievements in winning a second World Title are something to be celebrated by British sports fans. And I accept that last night that it was a public vote and the public made their voice heard.
But for him to beat McIlroy by a considerable distance last night (Hamilton earned 209,920 votes to McIlroy's 123,745) was a baffling endorsement by those who voted. Hamilton may have shown critics this season that he could win in a Mercedes Car, but McIlroy also kept his critics quiet this year after a 2013 in which he struggled for form (he only won one tournament all year) and also got himself involved in legal battles and even walked off course during a tournament.
If that was McIlroy's worst year as a professional, then he returned in 2014 with a bang and became completely unplayable no matter how good his challengers were playing. In the same week he split from fiance Caroline Wozniacki, he won the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Cha at Wentworth, coming from seven shots behind on the final day to win.
And then came his unbelievable performances over the summer, starting at The Open Championship at Hoylake. He led the field from start to finish, holding off challenges from two world class golfers in Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia on the final day which showed for all his brilliant play on the first three days, he had the capabilities mentally to win golf's oldest prize as well.
Many people would have rested on their laurels after winning an Open Championship, but not the man from Northern Ireland. After a week off, he again overhauled Garcia, this time at the World Golf Championship event at the Firestone Club in Ohio. Trailing by three shots going into the final round, McIlroy was at his imperious best on the final day shooting a 66 to win his maiden World Golf Championship event.
And the week after that, McIlroy completed one of the most remarkable spells in golfing history by winning the US PGA Championship for a second time in three years. Again, he faced the stiffest competition on the final day from Fowler, five time major champion Phil Mickelson and the player of 2013 Henrik Stenson who all passed him on the Sunday as McIlroy faltered on the front nine. However, an eagle on the tenth hole sparked him into life and seemed to put the jitters on the other contenders playing ahead of him.
Two more birdies at 13 and 17 followed by a par on the last sealed a second Major of 2014 for McIlroy which led Jack Nicklaus, the winner of 18 Majors to say that he has the opportunity to win 15 or 20 Majors in his career.
He capped an incredible year by playing a vital talisman role as Europe defended their Ryder Cup trophy at Gleneagles in September. He delivered three points for his team, including an incredible 5+4 singles win over Fowler, a match in which he was six under par through the first six holes.
Add in that he returned well and truly to the top of the World Rankings, won the money lists on both the PGA and the European Tour and won the PGA Tour Player of the Year, then you have to wonder what more McIlroy had to do to win the public over last night.
Hamilton is clearly a supremely talented driver, but his only true competition was his teammate Nico Rosberg, whereas McIlroy has to contend with challenges throughout the year from numerous brilliant golfers.
McIlroy's clubs help him to a certain degree, but certainly not to the extent Hamilton has in having the best car on the grid every time he lines up for a race.
Clearly Hamilton's achievements were more fresh in the voting public's mind than McIlroy's but it is hard to argue with those who say that if he has another stellar year in 2015, McIlroy should consider appearing via video link like 2013 winner Andy Murray did.
So for those who feel Hamilton was the worthy winner last night, I ask what more did McIlroy did need to do in 2014 to get you voting for him? Did he have to win all four Majors?
Or is it a case this year, that the misleading word "personality" in the award's title really did come into it for once?
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