The 2025 season draws to a close with a review of pivotal decisions and moments in professional golf.
Although golf is often marked by many constants, 2025 saw significant decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. Some moves by LIV Golf hinted at closer ties with established tours, while changes also emerged in the PGA and LPGA Tours.
LIV Golf’s New Leadership and Strategy
In January, LIV Golf saw a leadership change as American Scott O’Neil took over as CEO from Greg Norman, who initially stayed on as advisor before stepping back in September. With decades of pro sports management experience, O’Neil aims to lead LIV Golf into its next phase with innovation and greater reach. He has also signaled a more conciliatory approach towards other golf leagues, open to collaborations with the Majors, Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualification paths for LIV players to enter the Open Championship and US Open. By April, signs of rapprochement with the OWGR under O’Neil appeared, including a meeting between him and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman at Augusta National. Despite this, LIV Golf’s earlier rejected OWGR application still means its players face obstacles in some Majors.
Key Changes in Golf’s Top Tours in 2025
LIV Golf’s decision to stop penalty payments to the DP World Tour starting in 2026 carries major implications. The DP World Tour’s rules and court decisions state members taking part in rival events without approval face sanctions. Players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton played this year at the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour without penalties, but pending exclusion decisions could mean that from 2026, players choosing to remain members and compete face financial penalties themselves—possibly weakening Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2027.
The biggest change in LIV Golf is expanding tournaments from a 54-hole, three-day format to the standard 72-hole, four-day format in 2026, aligning with PGA and DP World Tour norms. This shift marks a break with LIV’s original disruptive concept, symbolized even by its name \”LIV,\” the Roman numeral for 54.
In the PGA Tour, NFL executive Brian Rolapp will become CEO, succeeding longtime Commissioner Jay Monahan who retires end of 2026. This restructuring shifts leadership from a commissioner to a CEO model, with Rolapp already chairing PGA Tour Enterprises founded in 2024 to generate new revenue streams. His expertise in media rights, marketing, and digital strategy will shape the Tour’s future.
In May, the LPGA Tour appointed Craig Kessler, a veteran sports executive from Topgolf, as its new commissioner, replacing Mollie Marcoux Samaa. Kessler brings extensive experience in sports and entertainment but sparked debate over why a woman was not chosen to lead the women’s golf organization.
Tomorrow Golf League Innovates Fan Experience
Founded in 2022 by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley, the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) entered its second season in late 2025, concluding in March 2026. This indoor league, partnered with the PGA Tour, blends traditional golf