Paul McGinley says winning Coach of the Year at last night’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards was tarnished by Rory McIlroy being beaten into second place for the event’s main accolade.

To the surprise of many, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was crowned Sports Personality of the Year despite Ulsterman McIlory’s unprecedented run of success in golf, which included two major wins and a Ryder Cup success, the latter under McGinley’s captaincy.

When asked by Jonathan Healy on Lunchtime today about his feelings when winning Coach of the Year, Dubliner McGinley said: “It was nice, I have to say. (But) I come away with a lot of disappointment that Rory didn’t win ... I really feel a sense of disappointment more than elation. But obviously it was a great honour to get the Coach (award).”

“Rory should have won, no doubt,” added McGinley. “I don’t think a European golfer has ever had a year like Rory’s had.”