Luke Littler is not backing Rory McIlroy to win BBC SPOTY

Luke Littler doesn't fancy Rory McIlroy’s chances of being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY). 

Instead, the teenage darts superstar is firmly backing his mate Lando Norris. “I think Lando [Norris] will win,” Littler said, doubling down on the F1 champion despite McIlroy dominating the betting.

Littler's stance on the award is vastly different to that of the majority of golf fans including English broadcaster Piers Morgan, who deems SPOTY will have become pointless and irrelevant if McIlroy is not crowned the winner on Thursday 18 December. 

McIlroy, 36, has been installed as the overwhelming favourite for SPOTY, trading as short as 8/13 after a sensational year in which he completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta, added a second Irish Open, a second Players Championship, won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, secured a seventh Race to Dubai title, and helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup. 

It’s the sort of season that usually makes SPOTY a formality – and he’s even confirmed he’ll attend this time after skipping the ceremony previously and sending Tommy Fleetwood in his place.

But Littler? He won’t be there.

Despite being nominated for the main award, the 18-year-old has made it crystal clear that darts comes first.

The reigning world champion lit up Alexandra Palace on Thursday night with a blistering 101.54 average en route to a 3–0 win over Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas to launch his title defence. 

Now he has more than a week off before facing either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies in round two – and nothing, not even SPOTY, will distract him.

Asked whether he felt he had a genuine chance of winning the big award, Littler shut it down instantly.

“No,” Littler responded, during an interview with SportsBoom. 

Pressed on whether he’d be attending the ceremony, he was just as blunt.

“I’m not going to it.”

And has he actually told the BBC?

“I think they know. The people in the top three of the betting odds will go.”

Right now those top three are McIlroy, Norris, and Women’s EURO 2025 penalty hero Chloe Kelly – leaving Littler, Lioness Hannah Hampton and England rugby star Ellie Kildunne at home on the night.

There’s no hint of frustration from the darts prodigy, though. 

If anything, he sees the situation clearly – and practically. Littler has built one of the greatest seasons darts has ever seen, storming to World No.1 and overtaking Luke Humphries while lifting six televised PDC titles. 

Only the World Masters, Premier League, World Series Finals and European Championship slipped away, with the World Cup not counting as it’s not a singles event.

But even that extraordinary dominance, in his eyes, isn’t enough to sway the BBC panel.

To be considered a true contender for the main award, Littler reckons he’d need to complete an unprecedented clean sweep of the PDC calendar.

Still, there’s no bitterness – just respect for whoever takes home the trophy.

“Good luck to whoever is going to win it,” he concluded.