The year in golf 2025 featured emotional turning points, personal stories, and unforgettable moments on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Great careers ended and new paths were taken. Between farewells and new beginnings, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf carried it all this year. Sometimes a single putt is enough to remember an entire year. This is the year in review.
A Final Time at Augusta – Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell
Few images in golf speak louder than words. When Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd rose from their seats as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. Though his last putt missed the cut, it mattered little. It was the decades Langer spent at this course that earned respect worldwide. Langer himself stayed humble, grateful, and clear, wishing to return often as a “non-playing champion.” It was the quiet exit of a great who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to overlook.
Between Fame and Fire
While Augusta was filled with memories, another historic course in California faced unknowns for different reasons. Wildfires fueled by strong winds forced tens of thousands to flee and came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. This nearly century-old venue, site of Olympic games, major wins, and a gathering place for sports and film stars, was within the evacuation zone of devastating fires. As thousands abandoned their homes, emergency crews fought to save one of golf’s most legendary courses.
Stories on and Off the Course
Not only places but also people shaped this year. On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück celebrated her wedding to fellow tour player Rosie Davies, returning to the course shortly after. “It’s nice to think about my swing instead of tablecloths,” she smiled, illustrating how closely personal life and pro golf intertwine. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course, rumored to be seeing Vanessa Trump, highlighting his personal challenges amidst a year of injury breaks and family losses. At LIV Golf in Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified fans with a hole-in-one that ramped up the excitement resembling a football game atmosphere. Off the public stage, Sepp Straka prioritized family as his newborn son returned home from intensive care, leading to his withdrawal from the DP World Tour playoffs, with the tour granting an exception for 2026 eligibility. Lastly, Charley Hull’s collapse during the Evian Championship raised concerns about the limits of physical strain in professional golf.