Despite historic successes in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List. A HMRC review appears to block his knighthood for now.
Nordirish golfer Rory McIlroy, alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald from England, was tipped for a knighthood from King Charles III. However, all three golfers were overlooked this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters win, becoming the first European to do so. He also shone at the 2025 Ryder Cup, helping Team Europe secure their first away victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nonetheless, McIlroy’s name was not among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List. The list is first reviewed by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK tax authority, before being presented to the Prime Minister and monarch. According to a report from The Telegraph, HMRC intervened, much like when footballer David Beckham had to wait several years due to tax issues before receiving his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Taxes?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were considered legal tax relief schemes by the authorities. Later, HMRC ruled these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating if McIlroy exploited the so-called “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” to deliberately evade tax payments. There is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intentionally tried to avoid taxes.
Since HMRC plays a role in knighthood decisions, such an investigation can lead to rejection. Neither McIlroy nor the UK government has commented on the issue so far.