A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories, and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to an end while new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf had it all this year. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire season. Here’s the year in review.
One Last Augusta – Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell
There are few images in golf that speak louder than words. But when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd rising to its feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt, it was one of those moments. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. The final putt didn’t make the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the decades Langer spent on that course—earning respect not just in Germany, but worldwide. Langer remained composed and grateful, expressing his wish to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit from a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to overlook.
Between Glory and Smoke
While Augusta was filled with memories, another historic course in California faced a different kind of challenge. Wildfires, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to Riviera Country Club. A venue with nearly a century of history—host to Olympic events, Major victories, and Hollywood stars—was in the evacuation zone. As thousands fled their homes, emergency crews fought to save one of golf’s most iconic venues from disaster.
More Stories That Moved the Golf World
Not just places, but people shaped the year in unique ways. On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück added a personal highlight by marrying fellow tour player Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course. “Nice to think about swings again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, showing how closely personal life and pro golf are intertwined.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods made headlines for reasons beyond the fairway. Rumors linked him to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and were seen together multiple times. With both families involved in junior golf, their paths naturally crossed. For Woods, who faced injury setbacks and the loss of his mother, personal life once again took center stage.
In Adelaide, LIV Golf