Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to a pending HMRC tax review.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for a knighthood by King Charles III along with Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, also from England. However, none of the three golfers received the honour this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters victory, becoming the first European ever to do so. At the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 36-year-old also played a key role in Europe’s first away win since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nevertheless, McIlroy’s name did not appear among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, 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 intervened in the process, similar to the delay faced by footballer David Beckham when he was being considered for knighthood years ago.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Taxes?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham and Sheffield in 2013, which were legally considered tax relief schemes at the time. HMRC later determined these projects amounted to tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the schemes abused the Business Premises Renovation Allowance to deliberately evade taxes. However, there is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intended to evade taxes.
Because HMRC plays a role in approving knighthoods, such suspicions or ongoing investigations can lead to rejection of the honour. Neither Rory McIlroy nor the UK government have commented on the matter so far.