Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List, with a tax review likely blocking his knighthood.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a top candidate for a knighthood by King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. However, all three golfers missed out this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters win, the first European to do so. He also played a key role in Europe’s first away victory since 2012 at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Despite these achievements, McIlroy’s name was not listed among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, which is reviewed first by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before being submitted to the Prime Minister and monarch. According to a report by the British Telegraph, HMRC reportedly intervened, similar to the delay experienced by footballer David Beckham before his knighthood.
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. These were deemed legal tax relief schemes at the time. Later, HMRC determined they constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating if these projects misused the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” program to evade taxes deliberately. There is currently no evidence McIlroy intended to avoid taxes.
Because HMRC must approve knighthood decisions, such a tax investigation can lead to rejection. Neither McIlroy nor the British government have commented on the matter to date.