With the date and venue still to be announced, our thoughts are turning to the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards 2011 (SPOTY). In what will be a relatively quiet year for British sportsmen and women, it could be the most open yet. 2012, will be different however, with the London 2012 Olympics competition will be hotter that usual. Back to this years though, we have had a look at the betting odds and have come to the conclusion, that the winner is already obvious. If Boxer, David Haye had beaten Klitschko or if Tennis star, Andy Murray had won at Wimbledon, things might have been different. If Bradley Wiggins wins the Tour De France, he is likely to challenge for the SPOTY honours. In my opinion there are now other candidates to challenge the favourite and the new golfing kid on the block, Rory Mcilroy. Priced at 2/5 he is the clear favourite by a long stretch, ahead of Jessica Ennis at 7/1. The genial Irishman won the Masters last month and has quickly become a sporting hero, across the globe. If he goes close next week, in The Open at Royal St George, we might as well forget the SPOTY presentation evening and give him the trophy now. Alistair Cook had a great Winter, in Australia, during The Ashes but, timing is against him as it is too far back in peoples memory. The fact he may not have a great Summer will not help his cause. So get your money on Rory, you won't win much but he is a sure fire bet to win this years SPOTY.
