As the curtain draws on an extraordinary 2025, the debate surrounding the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) has reached a fever pitch. While the shortlist features the usual array of record-breakers and national heroes, one name stands above the rest in terms of cultural significance and historical achievement: Rory McIlroy. In a passionate plea for the Daily Mail, Chief Sports Writer Oliver Holt argues that after years of being overlooked, McIlroy’s coronation is not just deserved—it is essential for the award’s remaining credibility. Following a season that saw the Northern Irishman finally conquer his demons at Augusta and lead a defiant charge at Bethpage Black, Holt contends that anything less than a victory for McIlroy would be an insult to the sheer resilience and artistry he has brought back to the game.
The Green Jacket Redemption
The defining moment of McIlroy’s 2025 campaign—and arguably his entire career—occurred on a sun-drenched Sunday in April at Augusta National. For over a decade, the Masters had been the elusive final piece of his career Grand Slam, a psychological barrier that many feared would never be broken. However, McIlroy’s victory in 2025 was a masterclass in mental fortitude. By holding off a late surge from Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler, he finally donned the Green Jacket, joining an elite pantheon of just six golfers to have won all four modern majors.
For Oliver Holt, this wasn’t just another tournament win; it was a “cleansing of the soul” for both the player and his supporters. The achievement elevated McIlroy beyond the realm of “great” and into the territory of “legend.” Holt argues that the sheer weight of expectation McIlroy carried into that week—and the grace with which he finally crossed the finish line—is the epitome of what the Sports Personality of the Year award was designed to celebrate: the triumph of the human spirit over years of high-profile heartbreak.
The Warrior of Bethpage Black
If the Masters showcased McIlroy’s technical brilliance, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black showcased his steel. In one of the most hostile environments in the history of the event, McIlroy stood as the emotional anchor for a European team that faced “vicious and thuggish” abuse from the New York galleries. Holt, who was on the ground during the tournament, describes McIlroy’s performance as “nothing short of heroic.” Despite the personal nature of the heckling, McIlroy remained unbeaten across the three days, famously telling a rowdy crowd to “shut the f*** up” before delivering yet another clinical approach shot.
His leadership at Bethpage was instrumental in securing Europe’s second consecutive Ryder Cup victory on American soil—a feat that has rarely been matched. Holt emphasizes that McIlroy’s ability to funnel the crowd’s vitriol into a winning performance served as an inspiration to his younger teammates. He didn’t just play golf; he led a crusade, proving that his “personality” is defined by a fierce loyalty to his team and a refusal to be intimidated by the basest elements of the sporting world.
A Stain on the Award’s Gravitas
The crux of Holt’s argument lies in the historical context of McIlroy’s relationship with SPOTY. Despite being one of Britain’s most successful and recognizable athletes for nearly two decades, McIlroy has frequently been snubbed in favor of more “accessible” or “recency-biased” candidates. Holt warns that if the BBC panel and the voting public overlook a career Grand Slam and a Ryder Cup masterclass in the same calendar year, the award will lose what little gravitas it has left. “It would be a stain,” Holt writes, “a confirmation that the award is more about popularity contests than genuine, era-defining greatness.”
McIlroy has often been a polarizing figure due to his outspoken nature on the LIV Golf divide and his perceived “bottling” of major leads in the past. However, Holt contends that 2025 has seen a “major U-turn” in public perception. By confronting his vulnerabilities and emerging as a champion at 36, McIlroy has humanized himself in a way that resonates with the broader public. He is no longer just a golfing prodigy; he is a man who has “stayed the course,” and that, Holt argues, is the ultimate “personality” trait.
The Moral Choice for 2025
As the votes are tallied for the December 18 ceremony, the choice for Rory McIlroy feels like a moral one for the sporting establishment. In a year that lacked a major men’s football tournament or a summer Olympics, the narrative of McIlroy’s “Grand Slam Redemption” has provided the most compelling story of the year. He has not only performed at the highest level but has also served as the primary spokesperson for his sport during its most turbulent era.
Oliver Holt’s message to the voters is clear: do not let this moment pass. To crown McIlroy is to honor the sport of golf and the incredible journey of an athlete who has given everything to the British sporting public. As we look toward a 2026 that will likely be dominated by different headlines, let the history books show that in 2025, we finally recognized the greatness that was standing right in front of us.
