A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories, and powerful scenes on and off the course.
The year 2025 was packed with stories. Legendary careers came to a close, and new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crisis and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf had it all. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire year. Here’s the year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Few images in golf speak louder than words. But when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd 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 legacy Langer built over decades on this course—respected not just in Germany, but worldwide. Langer remained composed, thankful, and hopeful to return as a non-competing champion. A quiet exit from a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to ignore.
From Fire to Celebration: Golf’s Emotional Spectrum
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires in California, driven by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the historic Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events and Major wins, the club found itself in the fire’s path. As emergency crews battled the flames, the golf world held its breath for one of its most storied venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the season with her wedding to fellow pro Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
In another kind of headline, Tiger Woods returned to the spotlight—not for his game, but his personal life. Reports linked him to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and active in junior golf through their children, the connection sparked media buzz. Amid injury recovery and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again made news.
LIV Golf, Family First, and Health Scares
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed ignited the crowd with a hole-in-one on the infamous 12th “