The 2025 season ends with key decisions and moments reshaping professional golf worldwide.
Although golf remains rooted in many constants, 2025 witnessed profound decisions, especially within the LIV Golf League. These decisions hinted at rapprochement with established tours. Changes also emerged at the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour.
The LIV Golf League: Strategic and Personnel Revamp
In January, Scott O’Neil replaced Greg Norman as CEO of the LIV Golf League, which was founded in 2021. With decades of professional sports management experience, O’Neil announced plans to lead LIV Golf into a new phase emphasizing innovation and reach. He advocates a more conciliatory approach toward other golf leagues and foresees future collaborations with Majors, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the PGA Tour.
In February, the R&A and USGA introduced new qualification opportunities for LIV Golf players for the Open Championship and the US Open. April saw signs of alignment between LIV Golf and OWGR, marked by a notable meeting at Augusta National Golf Club between O’Neil and OWGR Chairman Trevor Immelman. Despite LIV Golf’s OWGR application being rejected, this marked a step towards bridging gaps affecting players’ eligibility in Majors.
DP World Tour Sanctions and Ryder Cup Implications
LIV Golf’s decision to halt fines against the DP World Tour from the 2026 season will have significant consequences. The DP World Tour’s regulations, upheld legally, penalize members who participate in rival events without approval. Players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton competed this year in the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour without penalties as their exclusion cases are pending appeal. Members aiming to stay on the DP World Tour for Ryder Cup eligibility must shoulder fines themselves from 2026, potentially weakening Europe’s team in the 2027 competition in Ireland.
LIV Golf Extends Tournaments to 72 Holes in 2026
The most transformative LIV Golf decision in 2025 was shifting from 54-hole events to a 72-hole format starting in 2026. This change aligns tournaments with the traditional Thursday-to-Sunday schedule of the PGA and DP World Tours. Since inception, LIV Golf events spanned three days, symbolized by its Roman numeral name LIV (54). Moving to four-day tournaments marks a return toward golf tradition while pursuing growth.
Leadership Changes at PGA and LPGA Tours
The PGA Tour appointed Brian Rolapp, a top NFL executive, as new CEO replacing Commissioner Jay Monahan, who plans to step down at end of 2026.