A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
The year 2025 delivered stories of farewells and fresh starts, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle. From Augusta to Adelaide, golf offered moments that will be remembered long after the final putt dropped. Here’s the year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Some images in golf speak louder than words. When Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd rose to its feet. The two-time Masters champion swung his putter one last time in his 41st and final appearance. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. The decades Langer spent at Augusta earned him global respect. True to form, Langer remained composed and grateful, expressing hope to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a legend who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
Golf Amid Fire and Celebration
While Augusta was filled with nostalgia, another historic course faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires in California, driven by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate as flames approached the Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, Riviera has hosted Olympic events, Majors, and countless celebrities. As emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s iconic venues, the sport’s fragility in the face of nature was laid bare.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf Adelaide delivered a very different kind of heat. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the 12th hole—dubbed the “Watering Hole”—sent the crowd into a frenzy. Drinks flew, fans roared, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. The scene resembled a football game more than a traditional golf moment—exactly the energy LIV Golf aims to harness.
Personal Stories That Shaped the Season
Beyond the courses, personal moments defined the year. On the Ladies European Tour, German pro Laura Fünfstück married fellow tour player Rosie Davies, returning to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of table linens,” she joked, highlighting the delicate balance between personal life and professional sport.
Tiger Woods also made headlines—this time off the course. Reports linked him to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and involved in junior golf through their children, the two were spotted together multiple times. In a year marked by injury and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again drew public attention.