The 2025 golf season was anything but boring – from fan outbursts to rule chaos and drama, here’s the year in review.
From rule rewrites to viral moments, 2025 delivered a season full of unexpected twists. While the sport saw strong performances, headlines were often dominated by off-course drama, player controversies, and fan behavior. Here’s a look back at the most talked-about moments in golf this year.
Ryder Cup Drama: Booing Fans and Captain Controversies
The 2025 Ryder Cup was defined as much by its off-course storylines as by the golf itself. Captain Keegan Bradley made headlines by climbing to ninth in the Ryder Cup rankings after winning the Travelers Championship—while already appointed as team captain. The long-standing debate over whether a captain should play was reignited, but Bradley ultimately stayed on the sidelines, choosing strategy over spectacle.
Meanwhile, fans took center stage with loud boos directed at Rory McIlroy, who faced heckling and distractions during key moments. Shane Lowry even personally escorted a disruptive fan to security. In a new twist, only Team USA received official prize money in 2025, while Team Europe played for pride. McIlroy quipped he’d pay to play on Sunday, while Scottie Scheffler pledged to donate his earnings.
Adding to the drama, Viktor Hovland’s neck injury triggered an obscure rule awarding his opponent half a point without a single shot played. The rule’s revival sparked debate, as did a merchandise mishap involving a shirt silhouette eerily resembling McIlroy, which quietly disappeared from the Ryder Cup shop.
PGA vs. LIV, Equipment Failures, and Bureaucratic Blunders
The PGA vs. LIV saga continued when Wesley Bryan was suspended by the PGA Tour for participating in a LIV-supported YouTube event. Ironically, the PGA had previously invited Grant Horvat, the host of the event, to tour activities. Phil Mickelson called the suspension a blow to entrepreneurial freedom, highlighting the ongoing tension between the tours.
Sophia Popov experienced a bureaucratic nightmare when the LPGA Tour mistakenly allowed her to compete in three events—only to revoke her points and earnings later due to an administrative error. The mistake cost her a shot at regaining her tour card.