Rory McIlroy odds-on favourite to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is now listed as odds-on favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year later this month, potentially rounding out what has been the most special year of his professional career to date with yet more silverware.
According to Betfred, McIlroy is priced at 10/11 and sits top of the pile ahead of England’s European Championship hero Chloe Kelly (5/2) and Lando Norris (9/2), who could claim his maiden Formula One title this weekend.
McIlroy has enjoyed another special season, becoming only the sixth male player in history to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters at Augusta before lifting a sixth Ryder Cup crown as part of Team Europe.
The Holywood native also celebrated dramatic Irish Open glory, won the PLAYERS Championship and collected a seventh Race to Dubai title.
Despite previously winning four majors, McIlroy has never won the prestigious BBC award – he finished second behind Lewis Hamilton in 2014 and was nominated again in 2023.
However, McIlroy revealed he forgot he was even on the shortlist for the 2023 prize and slammed the ceremony as a “popularity contest”.
"I forgot I was nominated, so that’s how much I think about it,” he said in January 2024. “It’s a popularity contest and I think it’s just not really what it once was.”
Betfred’s Robert Ford said: “Rory McIlroy now has a strong grip at the top of our Sports Personality of the Year 2025 winner market as he’s moved into odds-on at 10/11, whilst second in the odds Chloe Kelly has been pushed out to 5/2 from 2/1.
“This is the first time McIlroy has been odds-on since July and he’s coming back into a strong position at the right time with the awards being held in just two weeks’ time.
“There could be a late twist in the tale if Lando Norris can claim the Drivers Championship in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, but as it stands, he’s out at 9/2 ahead of darts superstar Luke Littler at 12/1."
The Sports Personality of the Year award was first handed out in 1954 and Northern Irish athletes have previously celebrated success with Dame Mary Peters (1972) reigning supreme after winning Olympic gold in Munich.
Boxer Barry McGuigan (1985) and jockey Tony McCoy (2010) are also previous winners of the prize while George Best, Willie John McBride, Alex Higgins, Darren Clarke, McIlroy and Jonathan Rea have been on the podium.
Rea was the last sportsperson from Northern Ireland to place in the top-three when he finished second in 2017 having won his third consecutive Superbike World Championship.
The winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be revealed in a ceremony hosted by Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott in Salford on Thursday, December 18.