Rory McIlroy wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year after career Grand Slam with Ellie Kildunne in second

Rory McIlroy won BBC Sports Personality of the Year after an extraordinary year that saw him finally win the Masters - completing the career Grand Slam - alongside a Ryder Cup away win.

He became just the sixth man to win the career Grand Slam in a year that also included many victories on the PGA Tour and a seventh Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour.

McIlroy was one of six nominees for the award, with England rugby union World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne in second and newly-crowned Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris in third.

Lionesses Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, who were part of the side which retained the European Championships, and World Darts Champion Luke Littler, completed the six nominees.

"2025 has been the year that I made my dreams come true, from Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything in between," McIlroy said.

"It really has been the year that dreams are made.

"Thank you to everyone who voted for me as your Sports Personality of the Year. But my mum, my dad, they scarified so much for me and I wouldn't be here without them.

"I'd like to congratulate all the other finalists, what you've all done this year, over the course of your careers, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes."

McIlroy, who also collected the Team of the Year award on the night alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood, narrowly beat Justin Rose in an intense play-off at the Masters in April, ending an 11-year major drought after years of chasing down the final title.

He becomes the first golfer to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year since Nick Faldo in 1989.

The Northern Irishman opened his year at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January where he took a tied fourth-place finish, before taking his first win of the year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

His next win came in March at The Players Championship, where he turned around a four-shot deficit into a three-stroke lead in the final round before finishing 12 under alongside JJ Spaun and winning the three-hole play-off.