Rory McIlroy Misses Out On Prestigious PGA Tour Award

December 16, 2025

Rory McIlroy has lost out to PGA Tour rival Scottie Scheffler just days before BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The Northern Irishman is favourite to win SPOTY this year, but has suffered a major blow in losing out on a prestigious award to Scheffler.

Rory McIlroy Misses Out On Prestigious Award Days Before SPOTY

Although Rory McIlroy is the outright favourite to win 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Thursday, December 18, he has been pipped to the post of another prestigious award just days prior.

After winning the Masters back in April at Augusta to secure the career Grand Slam, many golf fans were expecting the Northern Irishman to be crowned the PGA Tour Player of the Year too.

However, it wasn’t to be with McIlroy being beaten to the prestigious award by PGA Tour rival Scottie Scheffler.

Scottie Scheffler has been named the 2025 Player of the Year.

Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Ben Griffin were the other finalists. pic.twitter.com/7OAyBgzMCg

— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) December 15, 2025

The five-time major champion may have won the Masters, the Ryder Cup and a seventh Race to Dubai title in 2025 alone, but that was still no match for Scheffler.

The world number one won six tournaments in 2025 alone, two of which were majors. Scheffler clinched the PGA Championship back in May before winning The Open in McIlroy’s home country of Northern Ireland in July.

Although this year was arguably McIlroy’s best on the course, it’s fair to say that Scheffler had a quite remarkable year too.

McIlroy was aiming to win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award for the third time and first since 2019, but has missed out to his American counterpart who has now won the award four years on the trot.

FOUR-PEAT COMPLETE 🏆🏆🏆🏆

Scottie Scheffler joins Tiger Woods as the only two players to win PGA TOUR Player of the Year for at least four consecutive seasons. pic.twitter.com/PoXQgmX7lS

— PGA Tour (@PGATour) December 15, 2025

McIlroy Favourite To Lift 2025 SPOTY Crown

Rory McIlroy became just the sixth man in history to win golf’s career Grand Slam, joining an elite list of players alongside Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan.

The Holywood man won three times this year, but was no match for Scottie Scheffler who once again was crowned the PGA Tour Player of the Year.

However, McIlroy has a major chance to pick up a different award this week, perhaps even two.

The Northern Irishman was shortlisted as one of six athletes who could win BBC Sports Personality of the Year, with McIlroy favourite to win SPOTY ahead of the likes of Lando Norris, Luke Littler and Chloe Kelly.

He's in your head…☘️@McIlroyRory is shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

You can vote during the live awards show on Thursday 18 December from 1900 GMT on BBC One & iPlayer. pic.twitter.com/54DvdTNByi

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) December 11, 2025

Not only is the 36-year-old favourite to win SPOTY on December 18, but he is also tipped to win RTE’s Sports Person of the Year on December 20 as well.

McIlroy has previously called SPOTY a ‘popularity contest’, but looks set to become just the third golfer in history to win the award. Dai Rees was the first golfer to win Sports Personality of the Year back in 1957, with Nick Faldo winning it in 1989.

No golfer has come close to winning it since, with the five-time major champion and career Grand Slam winner primed to make more history, this time off the golf course.

The European Ryder Cup team have also been shortlisted for the Team of the Year award, with Luke Donald’s side in with a major chance of success. McIlroy of course played a major part in the Bethpage Black victory too.

Although McIlroy is prioritising family time this Christmas, it could well turn out to be a busy festive period with the golf star expected to pick up not one but two prestigious awards.