Rory McIlroy is among the top contenders for BBC Sports Personality of the Year after a historic and dominant 2025 season.
2025 was the year Rory McIlroy finally closed the last open chapters of his storied career. After numerous attempts, he captured the elusive Masters title, completing the career Grand Slam. With that, he joined a rare group of players who have won all four majors. Now, McIlroy sits atop the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. It’s not his first nomination, but this year might finally be his moment. The shortlist includes six names, featuring a newly crowned world champion, title-winning heroines, and a teenage darts sensation. Yet none have shaped their sport in 2025 quite like McIlroy has in golf.
Rory McIlroy’s Season and the End of a Long Quest
For a decade, the Masters was the missing piece in McIlroy’s puzzle. In 2025, he fulfilled that dream, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta to secure the career Grand Slam. Only six players in golf history have achieved this feat. But that was just the beginning. At the Ryder Cup in New York, McIlroy was once again a key figure for Team Europe, earning 3.5 points in a fiery atmosphere on American soil. It marked Europe’s first away win since 2012 and arguably McIlroy’s finest team performance.
Beyond the headlines, McIlroy remained consistently successful throughout 2025. He claimed victories at the Players Championship, the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the Irish Open, and secured the overall Race to Dubai title. With his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy, he set a new benchmark, surpassing even Seve Ballesteros.
SPOTY and Golf’s Complicated Relationship
That McIlroy has yet to win a SPOTY title remains one of British sport’s enduring mysteries. He came close in 2014 but lost to Lewis Hamilton. In 2023, he made the shortlist but didn’t attend the ceremony and openly