Despite historic successes in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to an ongoing HMRC tax review.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for a knighthood from King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, both from England. However, all three golfers were overlooked this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, becoming the first European to do so. He also shone in the 2025 Ryder Cup, helping Team Europe secure their first away victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Despite these achievements, McIlroy’s name was not 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 the Monarch. According to a report by the British Telegraph, HMRC intervened in the process, similarly to what happened with footballer David Beckham, who also waited several years for his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Taxes?
McIlroy, recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, was involved in urban regeneration projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013 that were considered legitimate tax relief and recognized as such by the authorities. However, HMRC later determined these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the ‘Business Premises Renovation Allowance’ scheme was exploited to deliberately evade taxes. There is currently no evidence that McIlroy intended to avoid tax payments intentionally.
Because HMRC plays a role in decisions about knighthoods, such investigations or suspicions can lead to rejection. Neither Rory McIlroy nor the British government have commented on this matter so far.