The 2025 season is ending, highlighting pivotal decisions and moments in professional golf’s evolving landscape.
While golf is often marked by consistency, 2025 saw several profound decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. These moves indicated a potential rapprochement with established tours, alongside notable changes in the PGA and LPGA Tours.
LIV Golf’s Strategic and Leadership Reshuffle
In January, Scott O’Neil succeeded Greg Norman as CEO of LIV Golf, aiming to lead the league founded in 2021 into its next growth phase through innovation and broader outreach. O’Neil favors a more conciliatory approach towards other golf tours and envisions future collaborations with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualification routes for LIV players to major championships like the Open and US Open. By April, signs of alignment with the OWGR emerged, with O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman meeting at Augusta National, marking the first engagement since LIV’s rejected OWGR application, which still limits LIV players’ major entry.
Major Changes in Golf Tours Management
LIV’s 2026 decision to end fines against DP World Tour members will impact the golfing world significantly. The DP World Tour’s rules, upheld legally, sanction players who compete in rival events without permission. This year, LIV stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton participated in the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour events without fines, pending appeal decisions. From 2026, players wishing to remain DP World Tour members for events like the Ryder Cup will shoulder their own penalties, potentially weakening Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup squad in Ireland.
LIV Golf will also expand its tournament format from 54 to 72 holes starting in 2026, aligning with traditional four-day events running Thursday to Sunday, a shift from their original three-day format that broke golfing conventions.
Leadership Transitions at PGA and LPGA Tours
The PGA Tour announced changes with NFL executive Brian Rolapp named CEO, set to replace the long-serving Commissioner Jay Monahan by end of 2026. Rolapp brings expertise in media rights, marketing, and digital strategy, leading the newly established PGA Tour Enterprises aimed at revenue growth.
In the LPGA Tour, Craig Kessler succeeded Mollie Marcoux Samaa as Commissioner in May. Kessler, with a background at Topgolf and prior LPGA board membership, brings fresh industry experience, although his appointment sparked debates regarding female representation in leadership within women’s golf.
Tomorrow Golf League Schedule Evolves
The Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), launched by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley