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, alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald from England, was considered a favorite for a knighthood from King Charles III. However, none of the three golfers received the honor this year. McIlroy achieved a career Grand Slam in 2025 by winning the Masters, becoming the first European to do so. He also excelled with Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup, securing their first away victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Despite these achievements, McIlroy’s name did not appear among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, which is first reviewed by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK tax authority, before being presented to the Prime Minister and the Monarch. According to a report from the British Telegraph, HMRC intervened, similar to the delay experienced by footballer David Beckham before being knighted.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Tax Payments?
Recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, McIlroy was reportedly involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013. These projects qualified for legal tax relief at the time and were considered legitimate by authorities. However, HMRC later ruled that these projects constituted tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the