Despite historic 2025 achievements, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to a HMRC tax review.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for a knighthood by King Charles III alongside English golfers Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. However, all three golfers were left out this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a Masters victory, becoming the first European ever to do so. He also shined with Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup, securing their first away win since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nonetheless, McIlroy’s name did not appear among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, which is 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 in the British “Telegraph,” HMRC intervened, similar to the delay experienced in David Beckham’s knighthood due to tax matters.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Taxes?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was reportedly involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013 that qualified for legal tax relief and were initially approved by authorities. Later, HMRC determined these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating if the ‘Business Premises Renovation Allowance’ program was exploited to deliberately evade taxes. Currently, there is no evidence that McIlroy intended to avoid paying taxes.
Since HMRC has a role in approving knighthoods, such tax concerns or ongoing investigations can lead to rejection. Neither Rory McIlroy nor the British government have commented on the matter so far.