Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List amid an HMRC tax review.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for knighthood by King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who is also from England. However, all three golfers were left out this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, becoming the first European to do so. At the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 36-year-old shone with Team Europe, securing their first away victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nonetheless, McIlroy’s name did not appear 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 submission to the Prime Minister and the monarch. According to a report by the UK Telegraph, HMRC reportedly intervened, similar to the case with footballer David Beckham, who also had to wait several years before receiving a knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Tax Payments?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013 that were considered legal tax reliefs and initially approved by authorities. Later, HMRC ruled that these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating if the programs exploited the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” to deliberately avoid tax payments. However, there is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intentionally evaded taxes.
Since HMRC plays a decisive role in knighthood decisions, such a suspicion or ongoing investigation can result in rejection. Neither Northern Irish player Rory McIlroy nor the British government have commented on the matter so far.