A look back at 2025: emotional turning points, personal stories, and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to an end, new paths were taken. Between farewells and fresh starts, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf had it all this year. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire season. Here’s the year in review.
One Last Time at Augusta – Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell
Few images in golf speak louder than words. But when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, fans rose to their feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the decades Langer spent at Augusta, earning global respect. True to form, Langer remained composed, grateful, and expressed his wish to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit from a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to ignore.
From Fire to Celebration – Golf’s Emotional Spectrum
While Augusta was filled with nostalgia, another historic course in California faced danger. Wildfires, driven by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, having hosted Olympics, Majors, and celebrities, Riviera found itself in the evacuation zone. As residents fled, emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, warmth came from a different source. German golfer Laura Fünfstück married fellow tour player Rosie Davies, then returned to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing instead of tablecloths again,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines not for his game, but his personal life. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and with children active in junior golf, their connection drew attention during a year in which Woods also faced injury and the loss of his mother.
Defining Moments – From LIV Cheers to Personal Choices
At LIV Golf Adelaide, the atmosphere turned electric when Patrick Reed aced the 12th hole, the infamous “Watering Hole.” Fans erupted, drinks flew, and the celebration resembled a football match more than a golf event—