Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell and World Cup final referee Howard Webb have been made MBEs in the New Year Honours List.
There is a knighthood for British Airways chairman Martin Broughton, who was Liverpool's independent chairman during their takeover.
Former Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron is made CBE.
There is an OBE for ex-England rugby union star Mike Catt and an MBE for BBC rugby league commentator Ray French.
McDowell, the 31-year-old golfer from Northern Ireland nicknamed GMac, began the year ranked 50 in the world but has moved swiftly up the rankings.
In June, he became the first European for 40 years to win the US Open when he triumphed at Pebble Beach and in October his five-foot putt on the 17th green at Celtic Manor saw Europe beat the USA in the Ryder Cup.
