Rory McIlroy made a striking appearance at Royal Portrush on Tuesday night, wearing his Masters green jacket whilst collecting the Association of Golf Writers' Trophy for 2024.
The Northern Irishman's fifth AGW award marks a record for an individual in the trophy's 74-year history.
McIlroy attended the AGW's annual dinner to receive the honour, having been announced as the recipient in December.
His choice to don the coveted green jacket, earned at Augusta National in April when he completed the career Grand Slam, added particular significance to the occasion.
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|Rory McIlroy won the Association of Golf Writers' Trophy for a fifth time
The 35-year-old previously claimed the AGW Trophy in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2022.
McIlroy's 2024 campaign has been exceptional, with three worldwide titles including his Masters triumph in April.
"It's the best day of my golfing life," he said after the Augusta victory. "I've literally made my dreams come true."
The win ended an 11-year major drought and saw him defeat Justin Rose in a play-off to become a five-time major champion. His other victories this season include The Players Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Last year, McIlroy claimed the DP World Tour Championship for a record-equalling third time, securing his sixth Race to Dubai title.
He also won his fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Wells Fargo Championship titles.
The AGW award recognised McIlroy's dominant performances across 12 DP World Tour starts in 2024, where he recorded two Rolex Series victories, four runner-up finishes and two additional top-five placings.
His three consecutive AGW wins from 2022-2024 match Padraig Harrington's achievement, whilst his overall tally of five surpasses Lee Westwood's previous record of four.
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McIlroy returns to Royal Portrush seeking redemption after missing the cut in 2019 with an opening-round 79.
He has spoken candidly about the pressure he experienced during that tournament on home soil.
The world number two has shown strong form recently, posting a solid finish at the Travelers Championship and securing tied-second at last weekend's Scottish Open.
McIlroy begins his Open Championship campaign on Thursday at 15:10, paired alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas. The bookmakers have installed him as second-favourite behind world number one Scottie Scheffler.
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Having broken the course record at Royal Portrush aged just 16, McIlroy returns to familiar territory with renewed confidence. His recent form includes seven top-10 finishes this year across various tours.
The Holywood native has also been named as one of the vice-captains for Team Europe at September's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
With the pressure of completing the Grand Slam now lifted, McIlroy appears well-positioned for another major championship bid on home soil.