Rory McIlroy is among the top contenders for BBC Sports Personality of the Year after a near-perfect 2025 season.
2025 was the year Rory McIlroy finally closed the last open chapters of his career. After numerous attempts, he triumphed at the Masters, completing the career Grand Slam. He now joins a very exclusive group of players who have won all four Majors. With this achievement, McIlroy has become a frontrunner for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. It’s not his first nomination, but this time he might finally take the title. The shortlist includes six names—among them a newly crowned world champion, national heroes, and a teenage darts sensation—but none have shaped their sport in 2025 quite like McIlroy did in golf.
Rory McIlroy’s season and the end of a long quest
For a decade, the Masters was the missing piece of McIlroy’s puzzle. This year, he fulfilled that dream. In a playoff against Justin Rose at Augusta, he secured the win and completed the career Grand Slam—an achievement only six players in golf history have managed. But that was just one of many highlights. At the Ryder Cup in New York, McIlroy was once again a key figure for Team Europe. He earned 3.5 points in a heated atmosphere on U.S. soil, delivering perhaps his strongest team performance ever. It also marked Europe’s first away win since 2012.
Beyond the headlines, McIlroy remained consistently successful throughout 2025. He claimed victories at the Players Championship, Peb