Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List as a HMRC tax review reportedly blocks his knighthood.
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. However, all three golfers were omitted from this year’s honours. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, becoming the first European to do so. He also helped Team Europe secure the first away Ryder Cup victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Despite these accomplishments, McIlroy’s name was not on the New Year’s Honours List of 1157 awardees, which is initially 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 past delays experienced by footballer David Beckham before his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Tax Payments?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, considered legitimate tax relief initiatives. HMRC later classified these projects as tax avoidance and is currently investigating if the ‘Business Premises Renovation Allowance’ program was exploited to deliberately avoid tax payments. There is currently no evidence that McIlroy intentionally evaded taxes.
Since HMRC has a say in knighthood decisions, such an investigation can lead to rejection. Neither McIlroy nor the British government has commented on the matter so far.