Rory McIlroy Faces Tough Competition for SPOTY 2025 Amidst the Rise of Women’s Sport
Rory McIlroy completed a career Grand Slam with his win at the Masters in 2025 and captained Europe at the Ryder Cup despite facing abuse from some home fans. He is the bookmakers' favourite to win the Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) 2025 award and will attend the ceremony in Manchester on Thursday. However, golf has a troubled history at SPOTY; only two golfers have won in the past 71 years—Dai Rees in 1957 and Nick Faldo in 1989. Recent golf winners have also struggled with the award: Danny Willett finished last in 2016 despite a Masters win, while Georgia Hall in 2018 and Matt Fitzpatrick in 2022 missed the shortlist after major victories.
McIlroy's main rivals for SPOTY include Lando Norris, the Formula 1 world champion, and Chloe Kelly, who was instrumental in England's victory in the Euro 2025 final. The shortlist also features Hannah Hampton and Ellie Kildunne. Notably, 18-year-old Luke Littler is listed but will not attend the ceremony. If Chloe Kelly wins, she would become the fifth consecutive woman to receive the award, following Kelly Hodgkinson in 2024, Mary Earps in 2023, Beth Mead in 2022, and Emma Raducanu in 2021. Kelly herself has emphasized the rise of women's sport, highlighting its growing prominence in the sporting landscape.
