The 2025 season concludes as we review groundbreaking decisions shaping professional golf worldwide.
Although golf remains rooted in many constants, 2025 saw significant shifts, especially within the LIV Golf League. These developments signal a move towards alignment with established tours, alongside changes in the PGA and LPGA Tours.
LIV Golf’s Strategic and Personnel Overhaul
January marked a leadership change as American Scott O’Neil replaced Greg Norman as LIV Golf CEO. O’Neil, with decades in professional sports, plans to lead LIV Golf through innovation and expanded reach, adopting a more conciliatory approach towards other leagues, aiming for cooperation with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualification pathways for LIV players at the Open Championship and US Open. By April, O’Neil met OWGR chair Trevor Immelman at Augusta National, marking the first engagement since LIV’s earlier OWGR application rejection, which continues to affect LIV players’ major entries.
Stopping penalty payments to the DP World Tour from 2026 carries consequences. DP World Tour rules sanction members competing unauthorized in rival events. While players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton participated this year without penalties pending appeals, future sanctions could weaken Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2027.
The most profound change arrives in 2026 as LIV Golf expands tournaments from three to four days, moving from a 54-hole to a 72-hole format, mirroring PGA and DP World Tours’ Thursday-to-Sunday schedules. This shift breaks with LIV’s original concept tied to its Roman numeral 54 branding.
Transformations in the PGA and LPGA Tours
The PGA Tour also evolved with NFL executive Brian Rolapp becoming CEO, succeeding Commissioner Jay Monahan by the end of 2026. Rolapp, overseeing PGA Tour Enterprises since 2024, brings expertise in media rights and digital strategy crucial for the tour’s future growth.
In the LPGA, Craig Kessler replaced Mollie Marcoux Samaa as commissioner in May. A former Topgolf executive and LPGA board member, Kessler’s appointment sparked discussions on female leadership within women’s professional golf.
The Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy with Mike McCarley, launched its second season at the end of 2025. This indoor, hybrid league affiliated with the PGA Tour will now schedule matches on Friday afternoons and Sundays in 2026, broadening its fan engagement.