McIlroy wins Sports Personality of the Year 2025

Rory McIlroy, a professional golfer, has been chosen as the 2025 BBC Sports Activist of the Year.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman won his first Masters at Augusta National in April, making golfing immortality his first choice.

After winning the US Open, The Open, and US PGA Championship by 2014, McIlroy had to wait another 11 years to complete the tournament’s full run.

In doing so, he achieved the feat, joining Gary Player from South Africa, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Gene Sarazen, the second man and the first European to do so.

McIlroy then contributed three and a half points to his team’s success in the United States, which was their first Ryder Cup victory since 2012.

He also won the Irish Open for the second time, followed by victories at the Players Championship and the AT&amp, T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, before capitulating with his seventh Race to Dubai triumph.

Ellie Kildunne, a rugby player from England, came second, Lando Norris, a Formula 1 driver, in third place.

A panel of experts shortlisted England’s forward Chloe Kelly, Lionesses goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, and darts player Luke Littler, whose choice was determined by a public vote.

McIlroy joins Nick Faldo and Dai Rees in being the only golfers to earn the Sports Activist award in 1989.

McIlroy, who was born in Holywood, joins Sir AP McCoy and Barry McGuigan as the other Northern Irish boxer to win the trophy in 2010.

McIlroy’s protracted wait to win a career Grand Slam was unthinkable.

After letting a four-shot lead slip at the 2011 Masters, April’s game was a chance for history to repeat.

He had a two-shot lead going into the final round, but memories of earlier near-misses came to mind when his advantage was wiped out by a double bogey.

McIlroy had a four-shot lead going into the back nine after three birdies in seven holes before dropping four shots from the eleventh hole.

The drama was not yet over, though.

After Justin Rose and McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose birdied six of his final eight holes, McIlroy was forced to play in a sudden-death play-off after missing a putt in regulation to get his hands on the coveted green jacket.

McIlroy persevered to birdie the first play-off hole and win his first Masters while the agony of previous heartache was returning.

At the conclusion of a remarkable day of sporting theater, McIlroy erupted into a massive roar before collapsing to the ground and weeping in joy.

On the 18th green, there was a lot of pent-up emotion. All the years and the close calls are made worthwhile by a moment like that,” McIlroy said.

McIlroy helped Europe win its first game on American soil in 13 years with three-and-a-half points from five matches at the Ryder Cup.

The 36-year-old was the victim of verbal abuse from a hostile crowd throughout the Bethpage Black event in New York, and he criticized “unacceptable and abusive behavior” after his wife Erica was hit by a drink an American fan had thrown.

The world number two is expected to lead the team in the future with the help of the six victories he has won in his eight Ryder Cup appearances.

At some point, McIlroy said, “I would love to be the European team captain.”