Rory McIlroy has a good chance of being knighted at the end of the year following his Masters win, according to reports. McIlroy overcame his nerves to beat Justin Rose in a play-off on Sunday at Augusta National to finally add the Masters to his array of other golfing triumphs.
The 35-year-old has now completed the career Grand Slam, having previously won the US Open, The Open and two US PGA Championships. The Northern Irishman made history, becoming the sixth man, and the first European, to complete the set of Majors, joining Americans Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods and South Africa’s Gary Player in an exclusive club.
It was a momentous day for McIlroy, who famously threw away a four-shot lead in the final round of the 2011 Masters. He admitted he was riddled with nerves during his final round but proclaimed it a “dream come true” once he had the green jacket on after overcoming his Ryder Cup team-mate Rose after one sudden death hole.
McIlroy’s triumph could see him add to the MBE he received back in 2011, with The Telegraph reporting that he is now in line to be knighted. He is reportedly likely to be named in the New Year’s list as honours, with the list being finalised for the King’s birthday list in June.
However, because knighthoods usually arrive once sportspeople have retired, it would need an intervention from Downing Street for McIlroy to get one while he’s still an active golfer. Yet because he meets the criteria of longevity and achievement at the highest level of his profession, that isn’t expected to be an issue.
It emerged last week that England’s all-time leading wicket-taker Jimmy Anderson is set to be knighted for services to cricket. Anderson is still playing at the age of 42 and he will follow in the footsteps of Sir Andy Murray, Sir Mo Farah and Sir Lewis Hamilton in being knighted while still competing professionally.
If he does become Sir Rory at the end of 2025, McIlroy would become the most high-profile Northern Irishman to receive a sporting honour since jockey AP McCoy received a knighthood 10 years ago.
“It’s a dream come true,” McIlroy said in his press conference. “I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember. I mentioned it out in the prize ceremony, but watching Tiger [Woods] here in 1997 do what he did, and then winning his first green jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did.
“You know, there were points in my career where I didn’t know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders, but I didn’t make it easy today.
“I certainly didn’t make it easy. I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the golf course.”
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