Rory McIlroy was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Thursday following a remarkable 2025 campaign that saw him achieve several career milestones.

The Northern Irish golfer narrowly beat Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne and Formula One world champion Lando Norris in the public vote.

McIlroy became only the sixth man in history to complete golf’s career Grand Slam with a long-awaited victory at the Masters in April. He also played a pivotal role in Europe’s dramatic Ryder Cup triumph over the United States at Bethpage Black, despite facing persistent abuse from American fans, and claimed his second Players Championship title.

“2025 has been the year I made my dreams come true,” McIlroy said. “From Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything in between. It’s the year dreams are made of.”

At 36, McIlroy became only the third Northern Irish recipient of the award, following former jockey AP McCoy and 1972 Olympic pentathlon champion Mary Peters.

It was a double triumph for McIlroy as the European Ryder Cup team also won the Team of the Year award.

Other nominees for the main award included 18-year-old darts world champion Luke Littler, and England’s Women’s Euro 2025 winners Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly.

2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Winners:

• Sports Personality of the Year: Rory McIlroy
• Team of the Year: European Ryder Cup team
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Thierry Henry
• Helen Rollason Award: Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe
• World Sport Star: Armand Duplantis
• Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman
• Young Sports Personality of the Year: Michelle Agyemang