Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List. A HMRC investigation appears to block his knighthood.
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, none of the three golfers received the honor this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his 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 win since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nevertheless, 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 presented to the Prime Minister and Monarch. According to a report from The Telegraph, HMRC intervened in the process, similar to the case of footballer David Beckham, who had to wait several years for his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Tax Payments?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban regeneration projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were initially regarded as legitimate tax relief and accepted by authorities. Later, HMRC determined these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the programs exploited the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” to deliberately evade taxes. There is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intentionally tried to avoid tax payments.
Because HMRC has a say in knighthood decisions, such a suspicion or ongoing investigation can lead to rejection. Neither McIlroy nor the British government has commented on the matter so far.