Despite historic 2025 successes, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List as a HMRC tax review reportedly blocks his knighthood.
North Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for a knighthood from King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, both from England. However, all three golfers were left out this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters victory, becoming the first European to do so. He also shone at the 2025 Ryder Cup, helping Team Europe secure their first away win since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Despite these achievements, McIlroy’s name was not 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), the UK tax authority, before being submitted to the Prime Minister and Monarch. According to a report by the British ‘Telegraph,’ HMRC reportedly intervened, similar to the case of footballer David Beckham, who also faced delays in receiving his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy deliberately avoid tax payments?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was reportedly involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were initially considered legal tax reliefs by authorities. Later HMRC decided these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the projects exploited the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” to deliberately evade taxes. However, there is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intentionally evaded tax payments.
Since HMRC has decisive input concerning knighthood awards, such suspicion or ongoing review can lead to a refusal. Neither McIlroy nor the British government has commented on the matter so far.