- Rory McIlroy ended an 11-year wait for a major championship on Sunday night
- The Northern Irishman edged out Justin Rose in a nail-biting play-off round
- The 35-year-old became only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam
Rory McIlroy is in line to be knighted after clinching the career Grand Slam following his dramatic triumph at the Masters, according to a report.
The Northern Irishman, who became only the sixth man to achieve the feat on Sunday, appears most likely to be named in the New Year’s list, the report claims.
However, high-level discussions must reportedly take place before the 35-year-old is confirmed.
McIlroy ended an 11-year wait to win a major championship at Augusta after edging out Justin Rose in a nail-biting sudden-death play-off. The golf star saw his two-shot lead evaporate after the first hole but was able to wrestle back control before a late charge from Rose forced the decider.
According to the Telegraph, there should be no issues handing McIlroy, who received an MBE in 2011, a knighthood despite his decision to represent the Republic of Ireland rather than Great Britain at the Olympics.
Upon receiving his previous honour, following victory at the US Open – his second major – he said: ‘Many people on the honours list have made huge personal sacrifices and contributed significantly to society during their lives. I feel very fortunate to be in their company.’
Rory McIlroy is reportedly in line to be knighted after ending his 11-year wait for a major championship
The Northern Irishman became only the sixth man and the first European to win the Grand Slam
The 35-year-old celebrated the victory with his wife Erica Stoll and their four-year-old daughter Poppy
McIlroy would become the most high-profile Northern Irishman to receive the sporting award since jockey AP McCoy was knighted for services to horse racing in 2015.
He would also be the latest sportsperson to be knighted while still competing, joining the likes of Sir Andy Murray, Sir Mo Farah and Sir Lewis Hamilton. Furthermore, the Telegraph’s report claims that the topic of a McIlroy knighthood is a matter of ‘when, not if’.
On Sunday night, McIlroy held his nerve from four feet to claim the coveted Green Jacket at his 17th attempt and trigger emotional scenes at an adoring Augusta National.
‘I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember,’ he said. ‘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’ve carried that burden since August 2014,’ he added. ‘It’s nearly 11 years. And not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam. You know, trying to join a group of five players to do it, you know, watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process. Yeah, it’s been difficult. It was a heavy weight to carry, and thankfully now I don’t have to carry it and it frees me up and I know I’m coming back here every year, which is lovely.’
