A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories, and unforgettable scenes 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, crisis and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf had it all this year. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire season. Here’s the year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Some moments in golf speak louder 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. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. The putt didn’t make the cut, but that hardly mattered. It was the decades of dedication that earned global respect. Langer remained composed, grateful, and expressed his desire to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to overlook.
Golf in the Face of Fire and Celebration
While Augusta echoed with memories, another historic course faced a very different challenge. Wildfires in California, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events and Major wins, the club stood in the path of destruction. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf Adelaide brought a different kind of heat. Patrick Reed electrified the crowd with a hole-in-one at the infamous 12th hole, the “Watering Hole.” Drinks flew, fans erupted, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. It felt more like a football game than a golf tournament—exactly the vibe LIV Golf aims for.
Personal Stories That Defined the Year
Beyond the courses, players’ personal lives added depth to the season. On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück married fellow tour player Rosie Davies, then returned to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal and professional lives intertwine in modern golf.
Tiger Woods also made headlines off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and have children active in junior golf. Amid a year marked by injury and the loss of his mother