A look back at 2025 in golf: emotional farewells, dramatic moments and personal stories on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to a close while new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle, the world of golf delivered it all. Sometimes, one putt is enough to define an entire year. Here’s the year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Some images in golf say more than words. 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 wasn’t enough to make the cut, but that hardly mattered. After 41 appearances, Langer’s decades-long presence at Augusta earned global respect. Grateful and composed, Langer expressed his hope to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to ignore.
Golf Amidst Flames and Fame
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course faced a different kind of drama. In California, wildfires driven by strong winds forced tens of thousands to evacuate, threatening the historic Riviera Country Club. A venue with nearly a century of history—hosting Olympic events, Majors, and Hollywood elite—found itself in the evacuation zone. As homes were abandoned, emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied locations.
Personal Moments and Public Spotlight
On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the season by marrying fellow pro Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the tee. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting the balance between personal life and professional focus in modern golf.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and active in junior golf through their children, the connection added a personal twist to a year already marked by Woods’ injury struggles and the passing of his mother.
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified fans with a hole-in-one on the infamous 12th “Watering Hole.” The crowd erupted, drinks flew, and the atmosphere resembled a football match more than a golf tournament—exactly the kind of energy LIV Golf aims to cultivate.