A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
From career farewells to unexpected triumphs, 2025 was a year full of stories in the world of golf. Between endings and new beginnings, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle, the sport delivered it all. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire year.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Some moments in golf transcend words. When Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd rose in tribute 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 he left behind — decades of excellence that earned global respect. Langer, ever composed, expressed gratitude and a desire to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never demanded the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
Fire Threatens Riviera, LIV Ignites Adelaide
While Augusta echoed with memories, California’s Riviera Country Club faced a different kind of drama. Raging wildfires, driven by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the historic venue. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events and Major victories, Riviera stood at risk. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic courses.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf Adelaide delivered a very different kind of heat. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the infamous 12th, the “Watering Hole,” sent the crowd into a frenzy. Drinks flew, fans roared, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. It felt more like a football match than a golf tournament — exactly the atmosphere LIV Golf aims to create.
Personal Stories: Love, Loss and Life Beyond the Game
Golf in 2025 wasn’t just about the leaderboard. Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the Ladies European Tour by marrying fellow pro Rosie Davies, then returning to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting the delicate balance between personal life and professional sport.
Tiger Woods made headlines off the course, reportedly dating Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and connected through their children’s junior golf activities, the pairing added a new chapter to Woods’ already complex public narrative — a