A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories, and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
The year 2025 delivered a full spectrum of golf stories. From career farewells to new beginnings, from crises to clarity, and from quiet emotion to loud celebration, the sport offered unforgettable moments. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define a year.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Few images in golf speak louder than words. One such moment came in April when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta National. As fans rose to their feet, the two-time Masters champion took his final putt after 41 starts. He missed the cut, but no one cared. The decades he spent gracing Augusta earned him global respect. 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 but was impossible to ignore.
From Wildfires to Weddings: Golf’s Human Side
While Augusta was filled with nostalgia, another historic course faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires in California, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. A nearly 100-year-old venue known for hosting Olympic events, Majors, and Hollywood elites, Riviera found itself in the evacuation zone. Fire crews battled to protect one of golf’s iconic sites.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, German golfer Laura Fünfstück married 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.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Rumors swirled about a relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and were seen together multiple times. With their children involved in junior golf, their paths often cross. Woods, recovering from injury and mourning his mother’s passing, found his private life back in the spotlight.
Celebrations, Sacrifices and Sudden Stops
At LIV Golf Adelaide, the atmosphere turned electric. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the iconic 12th hole, the “Watering Hole,” triggered wild celebrations. Drinks flew, fans roared, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. The scene resembled a football