Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to an ongoing HMRC tax inquiry.
North Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for knighthood by King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald from England. However, none of the three golfers received the honor this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters win, becoming the first European to do so. At the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 36-year-old excelled with Team Europe, securing their first away victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near the “Big Apple”.
Nonetheless, “McIlroy” was not listed among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, which is first reviewed by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before being presented to the Prime Minister and monarch. According to a report from the British Telegraph, HMRC reportedly intervened, similar to the case involving footballer David Beckham, who also had to wait several years for his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy deliberately avoid tax payments?
McIlroy, recently crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were considered legal tax reliefs by authorities. Subsequently, HMRC determined these projects were tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether they exploited the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” scheme to consciously evade taxes. There is currently no evidence that McIlroy intended to avoid tax payments deliberately.
However, since HMRC plays a role in knighthood decisions, such suspicion or ongoing investigation can result in rejection. Neither Rory McIlroy nor the British government has commented on this matter so far.