The 2025 season wraps up with a look back at pivotal decisions and moments in professional golf.
While golf is often marked by many constants, 2025 brought some profound decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. Several of LIV Golf’s moves indicated a potential rapprochement with established tours. Meanwhile, changes were also evident on the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour.
LIV Golf Restructures Strategically and Personnel-Wise
In January, a leadership change was signaled at LIV Golf when American Scott O’Neil took over as CEO from Greg Norman, who initially planned to stay on as an advisor but stepped away from the business in September. O’Neil, with decades of professional sports management experience, announced plans to lead LIV Golf into its next developmental phase with innovation and broader reach. He also advocates for a more conciliatory approach toward other golf leagues and does not rule out future collaborations with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA created new qualification opportunities for LIV players at the Open Championship and US Open majors. By April, a move toward OWGR integration began to take shape under CEO O’Neil. He and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman were seen meeting at Augusta National Golf Club—marking a first interaction since LIV Golf’s OWGR application was denied, a situation still limiting LIV players’ access to majors.
Impact on DP World Tour and Ryder Cup Penalties
LIV Golf’s decision to cease penalty payments to the DP World Tour starting in the 2026 season will have far-reaching implications. DP World Tour regulations, upheld by courts, sanction members participating in competing events without approval. Players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were able to compete in the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour events this year without penalties, pending appeals. From 2026, DP World Tour members wishing to remain eligible, for example for Ryder Cup participation, will bear responsibility for their financial penalties themselves, potentially weakening the European Ryder Cup team in Ireland 2027.
Revolutionizing Format: LIV Expands to 72 Holes in 2026
The most significant change in LIV Golf was extending the tournament format from three to four days starting in 2026, shifting from a 54-hole to a 72-hole structure. This means LIV tournaments will generally run Thursday through Sunday, aligning with PGA Tour and DP World Tour scheduling. Since its foundation, LIV events lasted three days as part of its concept to break traditional golf norms, reflected even in its name ‘