Rory McIlroy says it would be a ‘massive honour’ if his sterling year culminates with a knighthood.
The Northern Irishman is expected to be added to the UK’s cast of sporting knights at the end of next month after a 2025 in which he finally won the Masters, collected three other titles and was prominent in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory.
Sitting in a tie for third after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship, there remains a chance for the world No 2 to collect yet more silverware before his season is concluded.
After opening with a 66 in Dubai, McIlroy was asked about the distinct possibility of being knighted and said: ‘If that were ever to happen, it would be an unbelievably massive honour.
‘That’s obviously up to people a lot more powerful and important than me. But I mean, if it were to happen one day, it would be a very proud moment in my life.’
As for the matter in hand, McIlroy was imperious with his wedge game in his pursuit of a fourth Tour Championship title on Thursday. Michael Kim, on eight under par, is a stroke ahead of Tommy Fleetwood, with McIlroy in the cluster one shot further back.
McIlroy won the Masters in April and became only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam
McIlroy is expected to secure the Race to Dubai crown at this week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai
Crucially, Marco Penge, McIlroy’s only rival for the Race to Dubai crown, or the Order of Merit in old money, is miles off the pace at two over par. The Englishman needs to finish at least second in the tournament to stand a chance of overhauling McIlroy’s lead in the points standings for the 2025 season.
Assuming there are no wild undulations between them across the next three days, McIlroy will collect his seventh Race to Dubai title, which would move him one short of Colin Montgomerie’s all-time record.
