Whether or not Rory McIlroy is voted as the BBCs 2025 Sportsman of the Year Award there’s no doubting on December, 31st he’ll have earned the approval of the King of the United Kingdom.
Golf’s newest Grand Slam champion will almost certainly be afforded a Knighthood when in exactly two weeks King Charles 111 reveals his New Year’s ‘Honours List’.
Top of the King’s ‘List’ will be those he has bestowed a Knighthood and Charles will not have required any of the nonsense that will reveal itself on ‘the box’ tomorrow night (Thurday, Decmeber 18th).
ARISE SIR RORY …
Whatever @BBCSport vote be assured King Charles 111 @RoyalFamily @KensingtonRoyal won’t get it wrong on Dec 31st
“It would be an unbelievably massive honour” @McIlroyRory
Read: https://t.co/lF8RMXL2lS
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/RuZzJXEszL
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) December 17, 2025
Being knighted is widely regarded as an honour because it is a formal, public recognition by a sovereign or state of an individual’s exceptional contribution to society, culture, science, public life or national wellbeing.
McIlroy may have already been approached by Buckingham Palace and, if so, the 36-year-old will have been reminded to keep news of the honour close to his chest before revealing his emotions until the last day of 2025.
If so, the Northern Irishman will become only the third British golfer in the history of the game to be honoured with a Knighthood that will ensure for the remainder of his life he will be known as Sir Rory McIlroy.
Rors was asked his thoughts some weeks ago while competing out in the UAE on being knighted and remarked: “It would be an unbelievably massive honour”.
Indeed, it will.
However, it does seem that those who have been honoured with a knighthood have previously been recognised in their profession/endeavour with an MBE – Member of the British Empire.
McIlroy was honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s 2012 New Year ‘Honours List’ following a 2011 year when he captured a first major championship – the 2011 US Open – by a stunning eight shots.
Victory in the majors continued for McIlroy and so did the annual awards, including three-time PGA Tour Player of the Year, seven-time DP World Tour No. 1, a mutiple Vardon Trophy winner, six-time AGW Golfer of the Year and just this week a further Irish Golf Writers ‘Professional of the Year’ title.
Though it was back in April, capturing a maiden Masters that placed McIlroy among just five other players to have won all four majors and in position as a UK citizen now to be knighted.
Nick Faldo had been awarded an MBE in 1988 and a year after his first of six major championship triumphs at the 1987 Open at Muirfield.
He won the last of his six majors with victory at the 1996 Masters though it was not till 2009 he was knighted though Faldo, and in his own indomitable ‘it’s all about me’ manner, no doubt would have sought to have changed career records so as to add the word ‘Sir’ in front of his name.
The only other British golfer to be knighted was Henry Cotton who won three Open Championships in 1934, 1937 and 1948.
Cotton was awarded an MBE in 1946 though it was not till 1988, and a year after he had sadly passed away at age 80, he was knighted.
So, without any further ado, and leaving aside this continual tiring BBC SPOTY voting nonsense … arise Sir Rory.
