SPOTY 2025: Can Chloe or Lando stop favourite Rory?

• Masters winner leads the Betfair Sportsbook's SPOTY 2025 betting

• Lioness and British F1 star Norris are also contenders 

• Trio dominate the Betfair market with 48 hours to go

Rory McIlroy is the odds-on favourite on the Betfair Sportsbook to win the BBC Sports Personality of Year (SPOTY) award on Thursday. But in a strong year , which has seen British sports start triumph on the world and European stage, is there a chance we could see an upset?

McIlroy, who completed a golf career grand slam by winning the Masters and played a crucial role in Europe's Ryder Cup victory, is 1/21.50 to lift the famous trophy. 

He finished second in SPOTY 2014 - the last time he won a Major before this year's dramatic triumph at Augusta - and few would be begrudge him if he were to go one better this week. 

If he does win, McIlroy will be the first golfer to get the award since Nick Faldo in 1989. 

Two other contenders have strong claims and should have plenty of supporters. They come from the worlds of football and motor racing.

Will Norris overtake Rory and win SPOTY?

When McIlroy lost out in 2014 it was to Lewis Hamilton. Could the Northern Irish golfer be beaten by an English Formula 1 driver again 11 years on?

It is possible after Lando Norris 3/14.00 became the first British driver, since Hamilton in 2020, to win the Formula 1 championship.

The 26-year-old ended Max Verstappen's dominance of the sport - a remarkable achievement which indicates that Norris could enjoy many more seasons of success.

Norris' title was perfectly timed for SPOTY, as he wrapped it up just over a fortnight before the ceremony. Brits love Formula 1, when one of their drivers is winning, and Norris provided some exciting Sunday afternoons for fans this year. 

Will Chloe be latest Lioness to win SPOTY?

Football is the UK's number one sport and Lionesses have a strong record this decade when it comes to SPOTY - two factors which could make Chloe Kelly 6/17.00 an appealing bet to cause an upset on Thursday .

England footballer Kelly was a crucial player in her country's second successive 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.

Lionesses former-goalkeeper Mary Earps got her gloves on the SPOTY trophy in 2023, while teammate Beth Mead won in 2022. SPOTY voters love the Lionesses and that could prove crucial come Thursday.

Is Kelly set to make a late impact again and pull off another come from behind win - this time in the SPOTY race?

SPOTY is not known for producing upsets but the strength of this year's front three - the trio are odds-on to make the top three and the only other candidate under 20/1 in the winner market is Luke Littler 16/117.00 who is unlikely to attend - means the 2025 race is going down to the wire. 

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