In a remarkable twist for the world of golf, Northern Irish superstar Rory McIlroy has been honoured with a prestigious new award that bears his name, yet he is permanently barred from ever winning it. This development comes as tennis icon Andy Murray makes a surprising career revelation, expressing his desire to become a professional caddie on the golf circuit.
The Rory McIlroy Award: An Honour He Can't Win
Rory McIlroy, who has enjoyed a stellar 2025 season culminating in his historic Masters victory and career Grand Slam completion, is the inspiration behind the DP World Tour's newest accolade. The Rory McIlroy Award will be presented to the tour member who delivers the best performance across all four Major Championships in a season.
However, in a unique condition, the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland is explicitly ineligible to receive the award himself. Explaining the decision, McIlroy stated, "It would be cool but I am ineligible for it. I thought it would be better if I wasn't. I think it was a decision made by all of us. We thought it was best if I would be ineligible for it."
McIlroy becomes only the fifth player to have a DP World Tour award named after him in recognition of on-course achievements, joining legends like Seve Ballesteros and Harry Vardon. He described the honour as "very, very cool" and expressed his excitement about presenting the award to its first recipient next year.
From Tennis Champion to Golf Bagman
Meanwhile, in a fascinating crossover between sports, two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has disclosed his post-tennis career ambitions. The 38-year-old Scottish tennis legend, who currently plays golf off a handicap of two, revealed he's seriously considering becoming a professional caddie.
Speaking on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, Murray explained his motivation: "I'm considering becoming a golf caddie, hopefully for a professional golfer at some stage. I love golf and if you love that sport then I think it would be a great job."
The 2012 US Open tennis champion elaborated on the appeal, noting that "being there when they're having a great moment on the course and feeling like you can help a little bit with decisions or things like that, I think it would be a brilliant job." When pressed on his dream partnership, Murray didn't hesitate to name Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre as his ideal player, imagining the scenario of "carrying Robert MacIntyre's bag when he wins The Open."
McIlroy's Stellar Season and Future Legacy
The award announcement comes during another triumphant period for McIlroy, who is currently aiming to secure his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai win and seventh overall at the DP World Tour Championship. His landmark 2025 season saw him become only the sixth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam after his long-awaited Masters victory in April.
McIlroy revealed that DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings first approached him about the award following his Augusta National triumph. Initially feeling it might be "a bit soon, a bit early," McIlroy eventually recognised the lasting significance such an honour would provide beyond his playing days.
"So it will still be amazing to have any name, after my playing days, my name associated with this tour, and hopefully have an award named after me, that means something to future generations that they want to strive towards to achieve," McIlroy reflected, acknowledging the privilege of joining such esteemed company in the tour's history.
As both McIlroy solidifies his legacy and Murray contemplates an unexpected new career path, the world of golf continues to produce compelling narratives that bridge generations and sporting disciplines.
