Rory McIlroy stands as the bookmakers' hot favourite to clinch the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for 2025, following a monumental season where he completed golf's career Grand Slam and spearheaded Team Europe to Ryder Cup victory. Yet, despite these towering achievements, his triumph is far from a foregone conclusion.
The Pay-TV Paradox: A Barrier to the Public Vote
The central irony facing McIlroy's candidacy is a modern broadcasting dilemma. If the Northern Irishman does lift the SPOTY trophy, it will be a rare live appearance on the BBC for a sports star whose biggest moments are now predominantly showcased on subscription channels. McIlroy's historic Masters win in April 2025, which sealed his Grand Slam, was broadcast live on Sky Sports, not on free-to-air terrestrial television.
This scenario is not unique to golf. Formula One driver Lando Norris, another strong contender, also exists primarily in the Sky Sports ecosystem for UK viewers. The annual SPOTY ceremony has become a stark reminder of the BBC's retreat from live top-tier sport broadcasting. The terrestrial peak audience for McIlroy's Masters victory was dwarfed by the 16.2 million who watched England's women's football Euros penalty shootout win on the BBC, highlighting the reach gap.
Worthy Rivals and the 'Transformative' Factor
McIlroy faces formidable competition from figures who have captured the public imagination in different ways. Luke 'the Nuke' Littler, the darts sensation who was runner-up in 2024, has been transformative for his sport, inspiring a new generation and helping push the PDC World Championship winner's prize to £1 million. His potential absence from the live show, however, could impact his chances.
Lando Norris represents the world of high-octane motorsport, while England footballer Chloe Kelly remains a popular choice. Each nominee presents a compelling case, but McIlroy's year of historic, legacy-defining success makes him, on sporting merit alone, the outstanding candidate.
The Historical Precedent and the Public's Verdict
The history of the award underscores the challenge. You have to go back to Nick Faldo in 1989 to find the last golfer to win SPOTY. Crucially, Faldo's first Masters victory that year was broadcast live on the BBC, embedding his achievement in the national consciousness via free-to-air TV.
For sports fans with access to subscription services, McIlroy's dual triumph at Augusta and in the Ryder Cup makes him an obvious choice. For the wider public who do not, his feats may feel more distant. Ultimately, if Rory McIlroy does not win the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, it will not be due to a lack of sporting pedigree. It may simply be because not enough of the voting public witnessed his brilliance live on their screens, a blunt reality in the era of fragmented sports broadcasting.
