Sportstar of the Year: Rory McIlroy magic, genius of David Clifford, Troy Parrott’s heroics and podiums for Kate O’Connor

Sportstar of the Year: Rory McIlroy magic, genius of David Clifford, Troy Parrott’s heroics and podiums for Kate O’Connor

A year neatly distilled down to two moments for the ages. Appropriately, the shadows around Augusta’s 18th green were lengthening in the late-evening April sun when Rory McIlroy rolled in a tricky four-foot downhill putt, to trigger a release of emotion that was brewing for 11, maybe even 14, years.