A few hours ago, Rory McIlroy finally claimed one of the few accolades that had eluded him: the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025. The Northern Irishman had been nominated for the award a few times in the past, but always missed out, making this win feel like a long-awaited homecoming. And his triumph sparked celebrations across the golfing world, with applause coming from both LIV Golf and PGA Tour stars.
When the BBC posted the achievement on their Instagram, LIV star Tyrrell Hatton was one of the first few to congratulate McIlroy, applauding, “👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.” European Team captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, Luke Donald, also commented, “Hard to explain how good this guy is and an incredible leader.”
The win also drew appreciation from Justin Rose, who went a step further and reposted McIlroy’s win on his Instagram story, “Congratulations @rorymcilroy what a year…”
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Amid the praises online, an emotional moment also stood out. Tommy Fleetwood, representing the European Ryder Cup team at the awards, was the first person McIlroy hugged after the announcement, a gesture that captured both personal friendship and professional admiration.
For McIlroy, this SPOTY honor adds to a year that already included Masters glory, Ryder Cup triumph, and a long list of personal milestones. Just two golfers have won this award in its 70-year history. “2025 has been the year I made my dreams come true. From Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything in between. It’s the year dreams are made of,” McIlroy reflected, when he was overcome with emotion as he accepted the award.
This is a developing story…