The 2025 season concludes with a look back at the most groundbreaking decisions and moments in professional golf.
While golf is often defined by tradition, 2025 saw several profound decisions particularly within the LIV Golf League. These included signs of rapprochement with established tours, alongside notable changes on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.
LIV Golf Reshapes Leadership and Strategy
January brought a leadership shift as American Scott O’Neil took over as CEO of LIV Golf, founded in 2021, succeeding Greg Norman who later stepped back entirely in September. O’Neil, an experienced sports executive, aims to advance LIV Golf through innovation and broadening reach. He has signaled a more conciliatory approach toward other golf leagues and plans potential collaborations with Major Championships, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualification pathways for LIV players to participate in the Open Championship and US Open. By April, a rapprochement with the OWGR was evident as O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman met at Augusta National Golf Club—marking the first interaction since LIV’s rejected OWGR application, which still limits LIV players’ Major participation.
Important ramifications arose from LIV Golf’s 2026 decision to cease fines against DP World Tour players competing without permission. DP World Tour regulations and courts uphold penalties for unauthorized participation. Notably, players Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton competed in 2025’s Ryder Cup and DP World events without fines due to ongoing appeals. From 2026, players wishing to remain DP World Tour members—and thus eligible for events like the Ryder Cup—must bear financial penalties themselves, potentially weakening Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team in Ireland.
A landmark change in LIV Golf’s format was its expansion from three to four-day tournaments starting in 2026. This shifts events from a 54-hole standard to 72 holes played Thursday through Sunday, aligning with PGA and DP World Tour norms. LIV’s previous three-day format reflected its break from golf tradition and its name, LIV, represents the Roman numeral 54.
PGA Tour Evolves Under New Leadership
2025 also brought changes to the PGA Tour with NFL executive Brian Rolapp appointed CEO, set to replace longtime Commissioner Jay Monahan by the end of 2026. This restructure elevates the CEO role to oversee operations and revenue generation, notably through the establishment of PGA Tour Enterprises in 2024, which Rolapp leads. His expertise in media rights, marketing, and digital strategy aligns with central future themes of the Tour.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour replaced commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaa with Craig Kessler, formerly with Top