'Surely, just surely, Rory McIlroy will rightly win BBC SPOTY in 2025...' | Roberts Rants

Rory McIlroy has surely already done enough to become golf's third ever winner of BBC's Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) this December. Surely? 

It might only be April but the bookmakers certainly think so anyway, as they have slashed McIlroy's odds from 16/1 into 8/15 after the Northern Irishman won his first Masters at famed Augusta National on Sunday.

McIlroy, 35, now becomes just the sixth player in the modern era to achieve golf immortality and complete the career grand slam.

He joins fellow golf legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in the record books. 

But if you think entering the career grand slam club is some sort of monumental achievement, it's honestly nothing compared to a British golfer being crowned winner of BBC SPOTY. 

Only two golfers have ever won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in its 71-year history. 

That equates to less than 3%.

Sir Nick Faldo was the last golfer to win BBC SPOTY coming in 1989.

Faldo etched his name on the coveted BBC prize that year after having slipped on the famous Green Jacket for the first time.

The English golf legend went on to win six majors before being knighted in 2009.

Wales' Dai Rees was the first golfer to win BBC SPOTY in 1957, a year in which he captained Great Britain to their first Ryder Cup success in 24 years in a 7.5-4.5 victory.

McIlroy finished second at BBC SPOTY in 2014 when F1 legend Lewis Hamilton won it. 

That year McIlroy won two majors (2014 Open, 2014 US PGA) and still fell shy of the first prize.

That was the last time a golfer finished on the podium, too. I know, what an absolute joke... 

McIlroy was again nominated for BBC SPOTY in 2023, a year that saw him win a fifth Race to Dubai (he has since made it six) and help Europe to victory over the United States when top-scoring with four points at the Ryder Cup. 

The World No.2 also won twice that year with victories at the Dubai Desert Classic and Genesis Scottish Open. 

But McIlroy came nowhere, as expected.

McIlroy likely caught wind that would be the case given he chose not to accept an invite from the BBC to attend the ceremony.

The Ulsterman not only refused an invite to attend BBC SPOTY but he was also the only one of the six nominees for the main award to decline an interview with the BBC in Salford. 

On McIlroy's behalf, Tommy Fleetwood, who chalked up the winning point for Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup, rather hilariously stepped in to chat to Gary Lineker up on stage.

But to be fair when it comes to interviews, look no further than the Fleetwood family... 

Even jockey Frankie Dettori, who also did not attend the awards ceremony in 2023, still spoke to the BBC via a video link. 

The winning vote ended up going to keeper Mary Earps after England Women's national football team won the Euros. 

But surely, just surely, the 2025 vote will be different for Rory McIlroy, a sportsman who has plenty of “personality” and is celebrated and lauded by golf fans in Great Britain. 

It has to be doesn't it? 

McIlroy just did the greatest thing any Brit has ever done in the history of our great sport.

And just look what it meant to him to win The Masters and end 11 years of hurt in the majors. There was nothing fake about it. This was a dream come true, and we all felt it. 

On Sunday 13 April at Augusta National in Georgia, McIlroy became the first Brit - and European - to achieve golf immortality and complete the career grand slam.

Only five legendary golfers in the history of our game had won all four majors before him. 

McIlroy also moves up to T15 in all-time list of major championship winning golfers with five to his name - The Masters (2025), The Open (2014), US Open (2011) and US PGA (2012, 2014). 

It's a truly bonkers achievement, and one that must be recognised, even if the BBC hates golf.

Unfortunately, and rather incredibly, there was no live BBC TV coverage or even highlights of the 2025 Masters Tournament. 

The BBC had aired at least partial coverage from golf's first major of the season every year since 1967, despite becoming a highlights-only broadcaster from 2020 onwards.

But for 2025, there was zilch. 

Who really knows why the BBC has turned its back on golf in recent times. 

That's open for debate. 

Some consider it's all down to throwing its toys out the pram now Sky Sports Golf has become the home of golf in the United Kingdom.

A message hammered home earlier today when Sky Sports announced Masters Sunday was the most-watched day in Sky history. 

Others believe political factors such as influence, cost-cutting measures and even a perception that golf no longer aligns with the BBC's broadcasting demographic are to blame for a lack of televised golf coverage in 2025. 

GolfMagic recently heard from one insider the BBC not so long ago turned down a full highlights package to show PGA Tour events. 

Wild, if true... 

Anyway, whatever we make of BBC's coverage of our sport, surely, just surely, the British broadcaster cannot possibly deny etching the name Rory McIlroy into the famous BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy for 2025. 

A certain 18-year-old superstar Luke Littler (7/2) might have something to say about that of course, but then again, darts is likely in the same boat as golf when it comes to the BBC. 

And while I do love a good night out at the darts, don't get me wrong, we cannot possibly compare hitting treble 20 in front of people in fancy dress to mastering Augusta National in front of patrons. 

The only other danger could be Lando Norris (9/2), but surely history won't repeat itself like in 2014 when McIlroy gets denied by someone doing laps in a high-powered F1 car? 

If McIlroy isn't awarded BBC SPOTY in Salford on 15 December 2025 then I'm sorry, but no golfer will ever win this award again. 

You've got my vote anyway, Rory.