SPOTY 2025 Betting: Kelly, McIlroy and Norris locked in thrilling three-way race

• Lioness and Masters winner lead the SPOTY 2025 betting

• British F1 start Norris is also in the race 

• Trio are only contenders shorter than 20/121.00

An emotional spring afternoon at Augusta. A series of dramatic summer nights in Switzerland. A glorious day at Silverstone for British F1 fans. 

Are these the defining sporting moments of 2025? Quite possibly and they are uppermost in the minds of bettors in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) winner market on Betfair as the annual December award draws closer.

Chloe Kelly 11/8 to win SPOTY for Euros heroics

England footballer Chloe Kelly came to the rescue of her team, scored crucial goals and, for the second time in her career, was part of a European Championships triumph in the wummer. 

The 27-year-old came off the bench to inspire the Lionesses' comeback against Sweden. In the semi-final, she scored the winner in extra-time winner against Italy before scoring the winning penalty in the final shootout against Spain.

The Lionesses legend is the 6/42.50 joint-favourite to win SPOTY and, if she is victorious, few would deny that she were a worthy winner. Her former-team-mate Mary Earps won this honour in 2023 and Beth Mead won it the year before.

There is a precedent here then for a Lioness who captures the imagination of the nation and, in 2025, the market says it could be Kelly.

Rory McIlroy also 11/8 to win SPOTY after career Grand Slam

Rory McIlroy victory at the US Masters in April prompted an outpouring of goodwill towards the golfer whose victory sealed a career Grand Slam. The final round was thrilling and, once he had sealed victory, fans were moved by his emotional celebrations.

It had been 11 years since McIlroy's previous victory at a Major and he went close many times in the intervening years. Now he is 6/42.50 joint favourite to add the SPOTY trophy to his green jacket win in 2025.

McIlroy was also a key player for Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team that won on American shores in September so his brilliance this year was not confined to Augusta. 

He wants to win SPOTY and has confirmed that he will be attending this year's ceremony in December.

F1 Championship leader Lando Norris 3/1 to win SPOTY

Lando Norris has had a sensational 2025 and it could get even better. The F1 driver, who won the British Grand Prix in the summer, leads the Drivers' Championship with three races to go. 

He is 2/91.22 to become the first British driver since Lewis Hamilton to win the Championship and 3/14.00 to win SPOTY. 

Those odds could shorten if Norris claims the title. The timing for Norris's SPOTY chances could not be more perfect, as the season finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place on 7 December - exactly the moment at which voters will be weighing up who they want to see win the BBC award. 

Hamilton, who triumphed in 2020, was also the last driver to win SPOTY.

Littler leads list of SPOTY also-rans at 20/1

For proof that this year's SPOTY is a three-horse race, you need look no further than the Betfair market which has Luke Littler as the trio's nearest rival at 20/121.00.

The teenager continues to light up the darts world, and will be targetting more World Championship success in December and January, but it will be a shock if he wins SPOTY.

Ellie Kildunne 25/126.00, star of England's Rugby World Cup winning team, comes next, as does Keely Hodgkinson at the same price.

The Middle Distance runner won this award last year but looks some way off the SPOTY pace in 2025. 

Now read Mike Norman's preview of Man United v Everton on Monday night