Rory McIlroy admits he has 'no idea' why he's missed out on knighthood

Rory McIlroy has admitted he has no idea why he hasn’t been knighted after another Open Championship snub at Royal Birkdale on 18 June 2026.

What did McIlroy say?

McIlroy told reporters he was baffled by his omission from the honours list. “I have no idea why I haven’t been knighted,” he said. “It’s not something I spend a lot of time thinking about, but it’s a bit strange.” The four-time major winner added that he’s focused on his game, not titles he may never receive.

Why the knighthood matters in golf

Knighthoods in golf are rare. Only a handful of players have received them, mostly for historic achievements. McIlroy’s omission comes despite his 2011 PGA Championship, 2012 PGA, 2014 Open and 2019 PGA wins. The last golfer knighted was Nick Faldo in 2005 for services to the sport.

How the Open snub plays into this

McIlroy tied for 12th at Royal Birkdale, his best finish in the tournament since 2017. He carded rounds of 68-69-70-71 to finish six under. “I played well enough to win,” he said. “Six shots back isn’t where I want to be, but I gave myself a chance.” The win went to Tom Kim, who shot 18 under to claim his first major.

What happens next for McIlroy

He’ll tee it up at the Scottish Open next week before defending his FedEx Cup title in August. McIlroy also hinted he may skip the Ryder Cup if his form doesn’t improve. “I’ll take it week by week,” he said. “Right now, I’m just trying to find my game.” His next start is at the Genesis Scottish Open on 11 July 2026.