McIlroy crowned 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Rory McIlroy's stellar successes in 2025 have earned him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The 36-year-old won the Masters in April to complete the career grand slam of golf’s four major titles.

He then contributed three-and-a-half points to Europe’s tally as they beat the United States to win the Ryder Cup in New York, their first away victory over the US in 13 years.

He also won the Irish Open in dramatic fashion in September, defeating Sweden's Joakim Lagergren in a play-off.

McIlroy won the public vote for the BBC prize ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup-winning star Ellie Kildunne and new Formula One world champion Lando Norris.

England footballers Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, and darts world champion Luke Littler were the other three shortlisted stars.

His success makes him the first golfer to win the award since Nick Faldo in 1989, the year McIlroy was born. He's first Northern Irishman to win it since AP McCoy in 2010.

He came close to winning it in 2014, losing out to Hamilton despite winning the Open and the US PGA Championship that year.

McIlroy, who flew in from the Golf Channel Games event in Florida to attend the ceremony in Salford, also won a seventh Race to Dubai title this year, leaving him one behind Colin Montgomerie’s record.

McIlroy and his Ryder Cup colleagues also secured the Team of the Year prize.

McIlroy is one of 12 nominees for the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year. The winner will be revealed on Saturday night.

Watch the RTÉ Sport Awards on Saturday from 8.05pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport