Despite historic 2025 achievements, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to an HMRC tax review.
Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favourite along with Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for a knighthood from King Charles III. However, all three golfers were excluded from this year’s honours. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters win, 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.
Yet, McIlroy’s name was missing from the list of 1,157 honourees, which is reviewed first 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 in The Telegraph, HMRC intervened, similar to the case of footballer David Beckham, who also had to wait several years before receiving his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Avoid Tax Payments Intentionally?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham and Sheffield in 2013, which were considered legitimate tax reliefs by the authorities. Later, HMRC determined these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the ‘Business Premises Renovation Allowance’ scheme was exploited to deliberately evade taxes. There is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intentionally tried to avoid taxes.
Since HMRC plays a key role in knighthood decisions, such suspicions or ongoing reviews can lead to denials. Neither McIlroy nor the British government has commented on the matter so far.