Rory McIlroy needs big Ryder Cup to avoid another SPOTY snub

Rory McIlroy has won just about every big prize in golf, but he again looks likely to miss out on one coveted trophy that has eluded him throughout his glittering career.

Despite being nominated on several occasions, McIlroy has never won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, and that trend is currently expected to continue this year.

McIlroy was installed as the hot favourite for the gong following his epic Masters victory in April, finally completing a career grand slam of major wins after he pipped Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National.

It was his third triumph of the year having followed up his win at Pebble Beach with a second success at the Players Championship, and his memorable Masters made him a firm favourite with the bookies to end 2025 with the famous SPOTY trophy.

However, McIlroy is currently second in the betting to footballer Chloe Kelly, who played a starring role for the England Lionesses as they were crowed European champions for the second time running during the summer.

The SPOTY award has been won by sportswomen for the last four years, and Kelly is a strong 11/10 favourite with William Hill to make it five in a row.

McIlroy’s odds have drifted to 15/8, although he could be reinstalled as favourite ahead of Kelly if he produces another stellar Ryder Cup performance at Bethpage Black.

The five-time major champion was the leading points scorer in Rome two years ago, winning four of his five matches as Europe romped to a comfortable five-point victory.

A similar showing in New York could finally sway the BBC Sport viewers his way, but SPOTY history would seem to count against McIlroy despite his glittering career.

He was a firm favourite to lift the trophy at the end of his stunning 2014 campaign, winning The Open and the PGA Championship along with his first WGC title and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

McIlroy also contributed three points towards Europe’s Ryder Cup win at Gleneagles, but his feats were not enough to persuade the British public as they voted for Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton instead, and even Hamilton looked a little sheepish when he collected the award.

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup heroics two years ago earned him another nomination for the prestigious SPOTY award, but he was the only one of the six contenders who did not show up at the ceremony, claiming he simply forgot he was on the shortlist.

Golfers have collected the SPOTY prize on only two occasions since its inception in 1954, with Dai Rees winning in 1957 and Sir Nick Faldo landing the main prize following his first Masters triumph in 1989.