As the BBC rolled out its six-person shortlist on Thursday morning, one name immediately jumped to the front of the pack: Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irish golfing superstar, who has somehow never claimed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award despite repeated nominations, is the bookmakers’ clear front-runner once again.
Paddy Power has him sitting at 8/13, making him the man to beat this year.
The Challengers Lining Up Behind Him
Trailing just behind McIlroy are two Lionesses who have spent the last couple of years turning major tournaments into their personal playgrounds.
Chloe Kelly, fresh off her European Championship heroics, comes in at 10/3, with Formula One champion Lando Norris just a step behind on 7/2 after sealing his first world title in Abu Dhabi.
Further down the odds list sits Hannah Hampton, the Lionesses’ shot-stopper, at 20/1.
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, who stunned the sport by winning the World Darts Championship at just 17, stands at 25/1, while England rugby star Ellie Kildunne is the long shot at 66/1 after lifting the World Cup.
Voting opens live during the BBC broadcast on December 18, coming straight from Salford.
McIlroy’s Complicated History With the Award
What makes McIlroy’s position as favourite even more intriguing is how publicly indifferent he’s been toward SPOTY in recent years.
Back in 2023, after being nominated yet again, he simply didn’t show up — no appearance, not even a video message — and later brushed the whole thing off by saying he had forgotten he was even nominated.
He didn’t shy away from calling the event a “popularity contest” either.
But despite the coolness toward the ceremony, this year gives him one of his strongest chances yet.
After a turbulent period both personally and professionally, he and wife Erica Stoll weathered the storm as he played a crucial role in delivering a historic Ryder Cup victory on American soil in September.
A Look Back — and the Competition Ahead
McIlroy has been close before. In 2014 he seemed poised for the crown, only to lose out to Lewis Hamilton, who was then celebrating the second of what became seven world titles.
And the golfers’ competition this year isn’t exactly soft.
The Lionesses have been on a roll in this award category — Beth Mead won in 2022, followed by Mary Earps in 2023 — a pattern that makes Kelly and Hampton genuine threats.
Norris’s rise also complicates matters.
Becoming an F1 Drivers’ Champion for McLaren is the kind of achievement SPOTY voters have historically loved.
BBC Celebrates a Standout Sporting Year
Reflecting on the stacked shortlist, BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski summed up the mood perfectly, calling 2025 “a breathtaking year” filled with moments destined for the history books.
He added that he’s eager to see which athlete the public ultimately crowns as the face of British sport for 2025.
More Awards Coming on SPOTY Night
As usual, the evening won’t just be about the headline trophy.
The broadcast will also celebrate Team of the Year, Young Sports Personality, Coach of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Helen Rollason Award, which honours “outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.”
With so many storylines and standout performances, December 18 is shaping up to be a night full of emotion, nostalgia, and some major sporting celebrations.
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