The 2025 season ends with a review of pivotal decisions and moments shaping professional golf worldwide.
Although golf has many constants, 2025 brought significant decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. Some choices signal rapprochement with established tours, while the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour also underwent changes.
LIV Golf’s Strategic and Leadership Overhaul
In January, LIV Golf appointed American Scott O’Neil as new CEO, succeeding Greg Norman, who initially stayed as advisor but stepped back in September. With decades of pro sports experience, O’Neil aims to lead LIV Golf into its next phase with innovation and wider reach. He advocates for a more conciliatory approach with other tours and potential cooperation with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, R&A and USGA created new qualification paths for LIV golfers to participate in the Open Championship and US Open Majors. By April, signs of closer alignment with the OWGR emerged. O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman met at Augusta National, marking a historic dialogue, though the rejected OWGR application still limits LIV players’ access to some Majors.
Major Tour Changes and Industry Impact
LIV Golf’s 2026 decision to stop fines against DP World Tour players competing at rival events holds wide-ranging implications. DP World Tour rules and courts confirm sanctions for unauthorized participation in competing tournaments. Notably, stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton could compete without fines in 2025 during appeals, but from 2026, affected players must bear penalties themselves, potentially weakening Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2027.
Another transformative move in LIV Golf is extending tournaments from 54 to 72 holes in 2026, aligning schedules Thursday through Sunday like the PGA and DP World Tours. Until now, LIV tournaments lasted three days, reflecting the league’s disruptive brand identity with its name referring to Roman numerals for 54.
Executive Leadership and Emerging Leagues
The PGA Tour announced leadership changes: Brian Rolapp, a top NFL executive, will become CEO, succeeding Commissioner Jay Monahan, retiring end of 2026. This structural shift includes the creation of PGA Tour Enterprises in 2024 to generate revenue, with Rolapp at the helm, leveraging expertise in media rights and digital strategy for the Tour’s future.
The LPGA Tour appointed Craig Kessler, a longtime Topgolf manager, as new Commissioner in May, replacing Mollie Marcoux Samaa. Kessler’s appointment sparked debate about gender representation in women’s golf leadership.
Lastly, the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in partnership with the PGA Tour, began its