Spain's Pablo Larrazabal has capped a magnificent maiden season on the European Tour by claiming the Sir Henry Cotton rookie of the year award ahead of Co Down teenager Rory McIlroy. Larrazabal becomes the fourth Spaniard to receive the award, following Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
The 25-year-old won his first European Tour title in the French Open after earning his place in the tournament through a 36-hole pre-qualifying event.
Larrazabal, who finished 18th on the Order of Merit, said: "Obviously the main reason I won the award was for winning the French Open and I'll never forget that victory.
"It's an amazing honour to be named the Sir Henry Cotton rookie of the year because there are so many great young players on Tour today. If you look at some of the players who have won the award in the past, you get an idea of how big an honour this is."
McIlroy, who had also been in the running along with the English duo of Robert Dinwiddie and Ross McGowan, finished the season higher up the world rankings (79th) than Larrazabal (117th) but his failure to win an event - despite four top ten finishes - cost the 19-year-old.
