A young starlet in the game of golf, Rory McIlroy rose from promising young talent to the game's pin-up boy in an exceptional year.

At 22 he became one of the youngest major winners of all time with his record-breaking triumph at the US Open, and he would go on to record solid results throughout the year to end at a career-high world ranking of two.

When switched on, the way McIlroy can tear apart even the meanest of courses is unrivalled in golf today and it is this unparalleled play that could make the Northern Irishman one of the game's all-time greats.

McIlroy began 2011 indifferently but still travelled to Augusta and the US Masters in April as one of the favourites for the coveted green jacket. He duly went on to lead after the first day's play, becoming the youngest ever frontrunner after round one.

He maintained his solid form to take a four-shot lead into the final round before a collapse more associated with his young age.

The 22-year-old shot an 80 and ended up finishing ten strokes adrift of eventual winner Charl Schwartzel. It was a crushing blow for the boisterous Brit and one that many thought would be too much to take mentally.

Indeed, he went on to fail to make the cut in the defence of his Quail Hollow title in May before answering his critics in a grandstand fashion the following month at the next major of the year.

McIlroy travelled to Congressional quietly confident and left having broken all kinds of scoring records in the US Open.

He ended up winning by eight shots but more astonishing was the way he tamed a course where so many counterparts struggled.

After just 35 holes at the 17th during his second round McIlroy became the first ever player to reach a score of 13-under-par at any stage of the tournament.

He eventually ended with a record score of 16-under-par and became the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923. One of the iconic images of the weekend will be the hug he gave father Gerry after the win on Father's Day.

After the win, McIlroy took a month away from the sport and failed to rekindle his stunning Maryland form at the British Open, finishing in a tie for 25th place.

At the end of October, McIlroy collected golf's richest prize of $2m (£1.28m) by defeating Anthony Kim in a playoff at the Shanghai Masters. He also rounded off the year by winning the Hong Kong Open in December.

Away from the fairways and greens, McIlroy has enjoyed a new relationship with tennis's golden girl Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane is currently the top-ranked player in the women's game and the pair have said they spur each other on.

McIlroy even posted a picture on his Twitter of a golf club he sent his 20-year-old girlfriend that was inscribed, somewhat cheesily, 'Wozzilroy'.

Finally, to cap off a wonderful year McIlroy was honoured, alongside Open champion and compatriot Darren Clarke, in the New Year's Honours list, receiving an MBE for services to sport.

In 2012 McIlroy's targets are likely to be notching at least one more major, with the Masters his most desired after last year's horror show. Meanwhile, world number one Luke Donald is likely to feel the heat from the bullish Northern Irishman for the planet's top spot.