Despite historic successes in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List, with an HMRC review likely blocking his knighthood.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for knighthood by King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. However, none of the three golfers received this honor this year. In 2025, McIlroy achieved a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, 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.
Despite these achievements, McIlroy’s name was not among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List. This list is first reviewed by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before submission to the Prime Minister and Monarch. According to a report by the British Telegraph, HMRC intervened in McIlroy’s case similar to the delay faced by footballer David Beckham before receiving his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Avoid Taxes Intentionally?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013. These projects initially qualified as legal tax reliefs and were approved by authorities. However, HMRC later determined they constituted tax avoidance and is investigating whether these projects misused the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” program to deliberately evade taxes. Currently, there is no evidence that McIlroy intended to evade taxes.
As HMRC plays a role in knighthood decisions, such investigations can lead to rejection. Neither Rory McIlroy nor the British government has commented on the matter so far.