The 2025 season is ending, highlighting pivotal decisions and moments in professional golf across major tours.
Although golf is often characterized by many constants, 2025 brought deep decisions especially within the LIV Golf League. Key moves at LIV Golf suggest a rapprochement with established tours, while changes were also seen at the PGA and LPGA Tours.
LIV Golf: New Leadership and Strategic Direction
In January, Scott O’Neil took over as LIV Golf CEO from Greg Norman, who initially stayed as advisor but resigned in September. With decades of sports management experience, O’Neil pledged innovation and broader reach, signaling a friendlier stance toward other golf leagues and potential cooperation with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
The R&A and USGA introduced new qualification opportunities in February for LIV players for the Open Championship and US Open. By April, O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman met at Augusta National — the first such engagement since LIV’s earlier rejected OWGR bid, which still limits LIV players’ major participation.
Penalties and Impact on DP World Tour and Ryder Cup
LIV Golf’s decision to end penalty payments to the DP World Tour from 2026 onwards has broad implications. The DP World Tour rules, legally upheld, punish members who play unauthorized events. Players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton participated without penalties in 2025 due to ongoing appeals, but from 2026 sanctioned players must assume penalties themselves. This could weaken Europe’s Ryder Cup team in Ireland 2027.
Format Revolution: LIV Extends to 72 Holes in 2026
The most significant change at LIV Golf was extending tournaments from three to four days for 72 holes in 2026. Events will now typically run Thursday to Sunday, aligning with PGA and DP World Tour standards. Since its founding, LIV’s 54-hole events were part of its break with golf traditions, even reflected in its name, LIV, the Roman numeral 54.
PGA Tour Changes: Brian Rolapp Takes the Helm
The PGA Tour announced major changes in 2025, appointing NFL executive Brian Rolapp as CEO, succeeding Commissioner Jay Monahan who plans to step down end of 2026. The restructuring separates the CEO role from the traditional commissioner, with Rolapp leading PGA Tour Enterprises formed in 2024 to generate new revenue streams. His expertise lies in media rights, marketing, and digital strategies — key future tour priorities.