No Sir Rory! McIlroy shockingly snubbed from New Year’s Honours after dream season

Rory McIlroy has had the season of a lifetime, but Britain’s honours chiefs weren’t impressed enough to knight him.

Despite a jaw-dropping 2025 that cemented his place among golf’s immortals, McIlroy has been stunningly left off the New Year’s Honours list, denying him the chance — for now — to become Sir Rory McIlroy.

And yes, it also means wife Erica will have to wait before being known as Lady Erica.

The shock omission has raised eyebrows across the sporting world — and beyond.

McIlroy, 36, enjoyed a year most golfers could only dream of. In April, he finally pulled on the Green Jacket at Augusta to become just the sixth man in the modern era — and the first European ever — to complete the career Grand Slam.

That alone should have sealed it.

But he didn’t stop there.

The Northern Irishman won three times on the PGA Tour, captured a second Irish Open at The K Club en route to a seventh Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour, and led Europe to a famous away Ryder Cup victory in New York.

As if that wasn’t enough, McIlroy capped it all by being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming only the third golfer in history to win the coveted award.

Yet when the honours list dropped today, his name was nowhere to be seen.

McIlroy was the most high-profile absentee from a list that did include sporting figures such as England women’s football boss Sarina Wiegman and Rugby World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne.

So what gives?

According to The Telegraph, McIlroy’s omission is understood to be linked to tax-related concerns, with HM Revenue & Customs said to have played a role behind the scenes.

The report suggests the issue stems from a historic investment McIlroy made back in 2015, when he — along with several other high-profile figures — put money into a regeneration scheme covering parts of Liverpool, Birmingham and Sheffield.

The investment was designed to revitalise run-down areas and came with tax relief under the Business Premises Renovation Allowance.

However, HMRC later launched an inquiry into whether the scheme could be classed as tax avoidance.

Crucially, there has never been any suggestion that McIlroy knowingly did anything wrong or intentionally tried to dodge tax. Nor is there any claim he was aware the scheme could be exploited.

The situation mirrors that of David Beckham, who was repeatedly snubbed for a knighthood for similar reasons before finally being honoured earlier this year.

McIlroy, who was awarded an MBE in 2011 after winning his first major at the US Open, may yet find himself knighted in the future — but for now, he remains on the outside looking in.

The honours list also sparked debate elsewhere.

While several members of England’s Euros-winning Lionesses were recognised — including captain Leah Williamson, who is upgraded to a CBE — there were notable snubs.

Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty in the final, and Hannah Hampton, this year’s BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and Yashin Trophy winner, were both overlooked.

Team-mates Alex Greenwood, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh will receive MBEs.

F1 world champion Lando Norris was another eye-catching absentee.

There was, however, recognition for England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup heroes and skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who received a damehood and knighthood — almost 42 years after their iconic Olympic gold in Sarajevo.

Former marathon world champion Paula Radcliffe, broadcasters Gabby Logan and Clive Tyldesley were awarded OBEs, while ex-England cricketer and broadcaster Isa Guha received an MBE.

But the headline act remained the same.

In a year when McIlroy conquered Augusta National and ruled golf on both sides of the pond, the absence of his name from the honours list feels — to many — simply unbelievable.

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