A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories, and dramatic scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to a close, new paths were forged, and golf delivered everything from farewells to fresh starts, crises to clarity, emotion to spectacle. 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 rising to their feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt, it was one of those moments. 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 at Augusta—respected not just in Germany, but worldwide. Langer remained composed, grateful, and expressed his wish to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
From Wildfires to Weddings: A Year of Contrasts
While Augusta was filled with memories, another historic course in California faced uncertainty. Wildfires, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events and Major victories, the club found itself in the evacuation zone. As people fled their homes, emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, a different kind of story unfolded. German golfer Laura Fünfstück married fellow tour player Rosie Davies, only to return to competition days later. “Nice to focus on my swing again instead of table linens,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine today.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Rumors swirled about a relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and active in junior golf through their children, the connection sparked media attention. Amid a year marked by injury recovery and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again took center stage.
Celebrations, Sacrifices, and Setbacks
At LIV Golf Adelaide, the atmosphere was anything but quiet. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the 12th hole