No ifs or putts, voters... just make the story Rory's glory

Who should win 2025's BBC Sports Personality of the Year? The Independent's sports writers make the case for each nominee - and pick their winner from a worthy half dozen

- 

The shortlist for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is out; so let the arguing begin.

Rory McIlroy, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, Lando Norris, Luke Littler and Ellie Kildunne are the six names in the running, with a first-time winner set to be crowned for the fifth consecutive year.

After memorable triumphs for the Lionesses and Red Roses, will one of Kelly, Hampton or Kildunne continue the streak and make it a fifth women's winner in a row? Or will this finally be McIlroy's time after the season of his life?

Could one of Britain's popular world champions, Littler or Norris, break through and add the Sports Personality of the Year trophy to their career-defining titles? It's down to the public to decide. But here is the case for each of the contenders.

Rory McIlroy

The raw, unfiltered emotion of Rory McIlroy at Augusta, on his knees after claiming that elusive Masters title, will live long in the memory of sports fans.

We watch sport for the unscripted drama and McIlroy is an expert at pulling you along for the ride, especially during that final push from Amen Corner to the gripping playoff against Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose. Sport thrives when the main characters face adversity and McIlroy has endured more than many of his contemporaries combined, including the ugly Bethpage cauldron, where he fought admirably to help Luke Donald's Europe prevail in the Ryder Cup on away soil. The epitome of sporting greatness, it's time for the man from Holywood to be recognised by Spoty.

Jack Rathborn

Chloe Kelly