The 2025 season concludes with a review of the most impactful decisions and moments in professional golf.
Although golf is often characterized by many constants, 2025 saw several profound decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. Some moves indicate a rapprochement with established tours. Changes have also occurred within the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour.
LIV Golf: New Leadership and Strategic Direction
In January, Scott O’Neil took over as the new CEO of the LIV Golf League, founded in 2021, succeeding Greg Norman who later stepped away completely in September. With decades of professional sports management experience, O’Neil aims to lead LIV Golf into its next phase emphasizing innovation and wider reach. He promotes a reconciliatory approach towards other golf leagues and sees future collaborations with the Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour as possibilities.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualification routes for LIV golfers to enter the Open Championship and US Open majors. In April, a notable meeting occurred at Augusta National Golf Club between Scott O’Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman, marking the first engagement since LIV’s rejected OWGR application, which has affected LIV players’ participation in majors.
Implications of LIV Golf’s Policy Changes
LIV Golf’s decision to cease penalty payments to the DP World Tour from 2026 onward will have significant ramifications. DP World Tour rules, upheld legally, penalize players participating in unauthorized competing events. Players such as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton participated in this year’s Ryder Cup and DP World Tour events without penalties due to pending appeals. From 2026, players wishing to remain DP World Tour members for events like the Ryder Cup must personally shoulder potential sanctions, risking a weaker European team in 2027.
One of the most substantial decisions was extending LIV tournaments from the previous 54-hole (three-day) format to a 72-hole (four-day) format starting 2026. Matches will typically run Thursday through Sunday, aligning with PGA and DP World Tour standards. Since its founding, LIV Golf challenged traditional norms reflected in its three-day format and even its name, LIV, representing the Roman numeral for 54.
Transformations in the PGA and LPGA Tours
The PGA Tour announced major changes in 2025, appointing NFL executive Brian Rolapp as CEO, succeeding longtime Commissioner Jay Monahan upon his 2026 retirement. The CEO role marks a strategic restructuring; Rolapp also leads PGA Tour Enterprises launched in 2024 to generate new revenue streams. His expertise in media rights, marketing, and digital strategy will shape the Tour’s future.
The LPGA Tour saw a leadership change with Craig Kess