The 2025 season is ending, and our year in review highlights key decisions and moments in professional golf.
Although golf is marked by many constants, 2025 saw several profound decisions, especially in the LIV Golf League. Some moves signaled LIV Golf’s rapprochement to established tours, with changes also evident on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.
LIV Golf Reshapes Leadership and Strategy
In January, LIV Golf appointed American Scott O’Neil as its new CEO, succeeding Greg Norman who stepped back in September. O’Neil, an experienced sports executive, aims to lead LIV Golf into its next phase, emphasizing innovation and broader reach. He also favors a more conciliatory approach toward other golf entities, seeking future collaborations with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualifying paths for LIV players to enter the Open Championship and US Open. By April, signs of alignment with OWGR surfaced, including a notable meeting between O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman at Augusta National. Despite the earlier rejection of LIV’s OWGR application, which still disadvantages LIV players for Majors, these interactions hint at evolving relationships.
DP World Tour Sanctions and Ryder Cup Implications
LIV Golf’s 2026 decision to cease fines against DP World Tour members will have significant ramifications. The DP World Tour’s rules — upheld by courts — sanction unauthorized participation in rival events. This year, players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton played in the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour penalty-free pending appeals. From 2026, players wishing to remain on the DP World Tour, and thus eligible for the Ryder Cup, will bear financial penalties themselves, possibly weakening Europe’s Ryder Cup team in Ireland 2027.
LIV Extends Tournament Format to 72 Holes from 2026
The most far-reaching change in LIV Golf this year was expanding tournaments from three to four days starting in 2026. LIV events will shift from the previous 54-hole format to the standard 72 holes played from Thursday to Sunday, aligning with PGA and DP World Tours’ schedules. This departs from LIV’s founding concept, which embraced 54 holes — symbolized by ‘LIV’ in Roman numerals.
PGA Tour Transitions: Brian Rolapp Takes Helm
The PGA Tour also revealed major changes in 2025. NFL executive Brian Rolapp will become PGA Tour CEO, succeeding longtime Commissioner Jay Monahan, who announced his retirement by