A look back at the emotional turning points, personal stories and dramatic scenes that shaped golf in 2025.
The year 2025 was packed with stories. Legendary careers came to an end, new paths were forged, and golf delivered everything from tearful farewells to wild celebrations. 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 as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt. It didn’t make the cut, but that hardly mattered. After 41 starts, it was the end of an era. Langer’s decades of presence at Augusta earned global respect. True to form, he remained composed and grateful, expressing his wish to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to ignore.
From Fire to Festivities: Golf’s Emotional Spectrum
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course in California faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires driven by strong winds forced tens of thousands to evacuate, threatening the historic Riviera Country Club. A nearly century-old venue that has hosted Olympic events, Majors, and countless celebrities, Riviera found itself in the evacuation zone. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied locations.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, German golfer Laura Fünfstück added a personal highlight: her wedding to fellow tour player Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course. \”Nice to think about my swing again instead of table linens,\” she joked, showing how closely personal life and professional sport intertwine.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and were seen together multiple times. With both families involved in junior golf, their paths naturally crossed. Amid injury recovery and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again became public conversation.
Celebrations, Sacrifices, and Setbacks
At LIV Golf Adelaide, the mood was anything but quiet. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the 12th hole, known as the “Watering Hole,” sent the crowd into a frenzy. Drinks flew, fans roared, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. The scene rese