Despite historic 2025 achievements, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to a HMRC tax review.
Nordic Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for a knighthood by King Charles III. However, all three golfers were excluded this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters victory, becoming the first European to do so. At the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 36-year-old shone with Team Europe, securing their first away win since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nevertheless, McIlroy’s name was absent from the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, which is first reviewed by the Cabinet Office and subsequently by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before submission to the Prime Minister and Monarch. A report from the British “Telegraph” stated that HMRC intervened, similar to a previous case delaying footballer David Beckham’s knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Taxes?
Recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, McIlroy was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013. These projects were initially considered legal tax reliefs by authorities. Later, HMRC classified them as tax avoidance and is investigating whether the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” program was exploited to deliberately evade taxes. Currently, there is no evidence suggesting McIlroy intended to avoid tax payments.
Since HMRC plays a key role in knighthood decisions, such suspicions or ongoing investigations can lead to rejection. Neither McIlroy nor the British government have commented on this matter so far.