Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was named as the US PGA Tour Player of the Year yesterday. As expected, the 23-year-old world No 1 was the popular choice for the annual Jack Nicklaus Award, decided by a vote from eligible tour players, becoming the youngest recipient since Tiger Woods in 1998. McIlroy won four PGA Tour titles this year, including the PGA Championship by a record eight strokes. "It's always nice to get recognition from your peers, the guys that you're trying to beat week in, week out," McIlroy. "I guess it's just a great way to end what has been a great year and my best season so far." Reuters

India's sports officials yesterday slammed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for suspending the country's membership. The IOC's executive board suspended India for flouting the Olympic charter in its election process. "I have not heard anything officially but am told that India has been suspended by the IOC," the Indian Olympic Association's president-elect Abhey Singh Chautala said. "If that is true, it is wrong and a one-sided decision." The ban means an effective end to funding from the IOC to the national Olympic committee, no Indian officials attending Olympic meetings and Indian athletes banned from competing at the Olympics under their country's flag. AFP