The 2025 season is winding down, and in this year-in-review, we look back at the most groundbreaking decisions and moments in professional golf.
Although golf is a sport marked by many constants, 2025 saw some profound decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. Some of LIV Golf’s recent decisions hinted at rapprochement with established tours. Changes were also observed in the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour.
LIV Golf Reorganizes Leadership and Strategy
In January, a leadership change was announced for the LIV Golf League. American Scott O’Neil took over as the new CEO from Greg Norman, who initially planned to stay as an advisor but then stepped back entirely in September. O’Neil, a seasoned sports executive, intends to lead LIV Golf into its next development phase, emphasizing innovation and expanding reach. He also advocates a more conciliatory approach towards other golf leagues, expressing openness to future cooperation with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, R&A and USGA introduced new qualification pathways for LIV players for the majors – the Open Championship and the US Open. Under O’Neil, a rapprochement with the OWGR, crucial for major qualifications, also became apparent in April. O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman were seen in a meeting at Augusta National Golf Club, marking the first dialogue between these bodies since LIV Golf’s rejected OWGR application, which continues to hinder LIV players’ major participation.
Implications for DP World Tour and Ryder Cup
LIV Golf’s decision to stop paying fines to the DP World Tour starting in the 2026 season carries significant consequences worldwide. The DP World Tour rules – upheld legally – sanction members participating without approval in rival events. LIV players Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton still competed at the Ryder Cup and on the DP World Tour this year without fines, pending appeal outcomes. Players wishing to remain on the DP World Tour, to participate in future Ryder Cups, must bear financial penalties themselves from 2026 onward, potentially leading to a weakened European team at the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland.
LIV Golf Extends Tournament Format to 72 Holes in 2026
The most profound change in LIV Golf this year was extending the tournament format from three to four days for the 2026 season. LIV tournaments will shift from the 54-hole format to 72 holes, aligning scheduling typically from Thursday to Sunday, like the PGA and DP World Tours. Since its inception, LIV events ran three days by design to break