“Pointless and Irrelevant”: Piers Morgan demands Rory McIlroy wins BBC SPOTY

Piers Morgan has fired a warning shot at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, insisting that if Rory McIlroy doesn’t finally take home the trophy, “it will render SPOTY utterly pointless and irrelevant.”

Morgan, the outspoken English broadcaster and lifelong Arsenal fan, has never hidden his admiration for McIlroy – a huge Manchester United supporter who delivered one of the most remarkable seasons golf has seen in the modern era.

At 36, McIlroy joined an elite club by completing the career grand slam at The Masters in April, becoming only the sixth player to achieve the feat after Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. His historic major triumph was just the start.

The World No.2 added the Irish Open on his way to a record seventh Race to Dubai title, while also collecting the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship on the PGA Tour. 

To top it off, he played a starring role in Luke Donald’s victorious European Ryder Cup team, helping them defeat Keegan Bradley’s USA side 15–13 at Bethpage in September.

It’s no surprise, then, that McIlroy enters SPOTY night in Salford as the overwhelming 8/13 favourite – fittingly just down the road from Old Trafford, the home of his beloved Red Devils. 

Yet history hasn’t always smiled on golfers at the BBC bash. 

In seven decades, only Dai Rees (1957) and Sir Nick Faldo (1989) have lifted the trophy. 

Still, British golf fans are confident this is finally McIlroy’s year, believing he’ll make it third time lucky.

Behind McIlroy in the betting are Chloe Kelly at 10/3, Lando Norris at 7/2, Hannah Hampton at 20/1, Luke Littler at 25/1 and Ellie Kildunne at 66/1.

Voting opens at 7pm GMT on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday 18 December, when supporters can cast their choice for McIlroy or any of the other contenders.

In the eyes of Piers Morgan, the competition is already over.

Posting on X/Twitter, he declared: “If @McIlroyRory doesn’t win this, it will render SPOTY utterly pointless and irrelevant. He’s had an unbelievable year, transporting him into the ranks of true sporting greats.”

Couldn’t have put it better ourselves, Piers.