Rory McIlroy has been voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming just the third golfer to do so after he clinched the Career Grand Slam.
While there was debate over who should win the PGA Tour Player of the Year, there were no arguments here as the public voted for McIlroy who won the Masters and played a pivotal role in Europe’s first Ryder Cup win on US soil since 2012.
McIlroy becomes the first golfer since Nick Faldo in 1989 to win the gong after he held off an illustrious list including England footballers Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, and darts world champion Luke Littler.
The 36-year-old also becomes the first male winner since Lewis Hamilton and only the fourth Irish winner after Mary Peters, Barry McGuigan and Tony McCoy.
“2025 has been the year that I made my dreams come true,” he said on stage. “From Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything else in between, it really has been the year that dreams are made of.
“I’ve a lot of people to thank. Firstly, the public, thank you for voting me as your Sports Personality of the Year, but my family, my mum and dad, they sacrificed so much for me and I obviously wouldn’t be here without them.
“My wife, Erica, my daughter, Poppy, they’re what holds me together, my rock.
“They couldn’t be here tonight, they’re back in America, but I can’t wait to get back to see them tomorrow and celebrate this with them as well.
“So thank you for all your support, everything that you’ve done for me over the years.”
It was a double celebration for McIlroy and golf as a sport as Team Europe also clinched the Team of the Year prize. The Holywood man remained on stage alongside Europe’s representative, Tommy Fleetwood to collect the prize.
“I want to say congratulations to the England Women’s football team and the Red Roses too, what you have done this year has been absolutely amazing. We’re up here as two of the 12 players. We also had the captain, vice captains and all of the backroom team – we could not have done what we did without all of them. Everyone watching at home, thank you so much.”
McIlroy is nominated for the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award on Saturday, which he is also expected to win.
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