The 2025 season concludes with a review of groundbreaking decisions and moments in professional golf.
Although golf is often marked by many constants, 2025 saw several profound decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. Some moves suggested a rapprochement with established tours, while changes also appeared in the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour.
LIV Golf Reshapes Leadership and Strategy
In January, a leadership change was announced with American Scott O’Neil taking over as CEO of the LIV Golf League founded in 2021, succeeding Greg Norman who initially remained as advisor but stepped away in September. With decades of pro sports management experience, O’Neil pledged to lead LIV Golf into a new phase focused on innovation and outreach. He also signaled a more conciliatory approach toward other golf leagues and future cooperation with Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, R&A and USGA introduced new qualification paths for LIV players for the Open Championship and US Open. By April, talks between O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman at Augusta National hinted at closer ties despite LIV’s prior rejected OWGR application, which still affects LIV players’ Major eligibility.
Impactful Changes in Tour Policies and Formats
LIV Golf’s decision to cease penalty payments to the DP World Tour from 2026 has major implications. DP World Tour members face sanctions for competing in unauthorized events. Top LIV players Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have competed this year without fines during ongoing appeals, but from 2026, players wishing to participate in events like the Ryder Cup must assume financial penalties themselves, potentially weakening Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team.
The most significant change is LIV Golf expanding tournament play from 54 holes over three days to 72 holes over four days starting in 2026, aligning event schedules Thursday through Sunday with the PGA and DP World Tours, moving away from the league’s traditional 54-hole format that reflected its name LIV (Roman numeral for 54).
Transformations in PGA and LPGA Tours, plus Growth in Emerging Leagues
The PGA Tour also announced major shifts as Brian Rolapp, a top NFL executive, becomes CEO, replacing long-term Commissioner Jay Monahan who plans to step down end-2026. Rolapp brings extensive expertise in media rights, marketing, and digital strategy, newly heading PGA Tour Enterprises since 2024 to diversify revenue.
In the LPGA Tour, longtime sports manager Craig Kessler replaced Mollie Marcoux Samaa in May, stirring debate about the absence of a female commissioner in the premier women’s golf organization.
The Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), founded in 2022 by