Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to an HMRC tax review.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for a knighthood by 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 as the first European to win the Masters. 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.
Despite these successes, 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 when footballer David Beckham had to wait years for his knighthood approval.
Did Rory McIlroy Avoid Tax Payments Intentionally?
Recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, McIlroy was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were considered legal tax reliefs at the time and were approved by authorities. Later, HMRC determined these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the ‘Business Premises Renovation Allowance’ program was exploited to deliberately evade taxes. Presently, there is no evidence McIlroy intended to avoid tax payments deliberately.
Since HMRC has a say in knighthood decisions, such a suspicion or ongoing review can lead to rejection. Neither the Northern Irish golfer nor the British government have commented on the matter so far.