SPOTY 2025: McIlroy 8/13 favourite to beat Kelly and Norris

• Masters winner leads the SPOTY 2025 betting

• Lioness and British F1 star Norris are also contenders 

• Trio are only contenders shorter than 20/1

Rory McIlroy will crown a brilliant year by winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on 18 December, according to the Betfair Sportsbook winner market.

The Northern Irish golfer, who won the Masters in April to complete a career grand slam and went on to be a key player in Europe's Ryder Cup victory, is 8/131.61 to win the famous trophy. 

He captured the imagination with his emotional victory at Augusta - his first at a Major championship for 11 years  - and people far beyond golf's usual audience were delighted for the 36-year-old. 

That bodes well for his chances of winning SPOTY but two other contenders have strong claims too.

Can Lioness Kelly beat Rory to SPOTY?

England footballer Chloe Kelly was a crucial player in England's second success European Championships title in the summer.

The 27-year-old came off the bench to inspire the Lionesses' comeback against Sweden in the quarter-finals, before scoring the winner in extra-time against Italy in the semis. Best of all, Kelly struck the winning penalty in the final shootout against Spain.

The Lionesses legend is the 3/1 to win SPOTY and there is a precedent here, as her former-team-mate Mary Earps won the award in 2023, while Beth Mead won it in 2022. SPOTY voters love the Lionesses and that may count for a lot again.

Will Norris add SPOTY to F1 title?

On Sunday, Lando Norris became the first British driver to the win the Formula 1 championship for half-a-decade.

The 26-year-old ended Max Verstappen's run of four consecutive championships. It is a remarkable achievement and indicates that Norris could enjoy many more seasons of success.

Perhaps SPOTY voters will overlook Norris this year in favour of McIlroy who, at at decade older than the F1 driver, may not have too many more opportunities to win the award.

Norris is [4/1] on the Betfair Sportsbook to overtake the two contenders above him in the market. 

Hampton and Littler among the chasing pack

Kelly's Lionesses teammate Hannah Hampton leads the chasing pack of SPOTY contenders at a distant 20/121.00.

The goalkeeper performed heroically for her team throughout the Euros and made two saves in the final penalty shootout. 

Luke Littler is 25/1 but his priority this Christmas and New Year will be targetting more success at the PDC World Championships. where he is the defending champiom

Ellie Kildunne 50/1, star of England's Rugby World Cup winning team, comes next, for her role in a victory that was another highlight of a brilliant year for British sport. 

Now read an in-depth preview of this week's Alfred Dunhill Championship