A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories, and dramatic scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to a close, new paths were forged, and golf delivered a mix of farewells, comebacks, crises, and celebrations. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire season. Here’s the year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Few images in golf speak louder than words. But when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd rose to its feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt. It didn’t make the cut, but that didn’t matter. After 41 starts, Langer’s decades-long presence at Augusta earned global respect. Gracious and composed, Langer expressed his hope to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit from a legend who never sought the spotlight—but was impossible to ignore.
Golf Meets Crisis: Fires Near Riviera Country Club
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course in California faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires driven by strong winds forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the historic Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history and a backdrop of Olympic events and Major triumphs, the club found itself in the fire’s path. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied venues.
Personal Moments: Love, Loss, and Life Beyond the Game
Golf in 2025 was also shaped by deeply personal events. On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück married fellow pro Rosie Davies, returning to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting the tightrope between private life and professional golf.
Tiger Woods also made headlines—this time off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., with both families active in junior golf. Amid a year marked by injury and personal loss, Woods’ private life once again drew public attention.
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified the crowd with a hole-in-one on the infamous 12th “Watering Hole.” Fans erupted, drinks flew, and the scene resembled a football celebration more than traditional golf—exactly the vibe LIV aims for.
Meanwhile, Sepp Straka chose family