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 an end, new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crisis and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf had it all. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire year. 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, fans rising to their feet as the two-time Masters champion swung his putter one final time, it was one of those moments. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. He missed the cut, but no one cared. It was the decades of dedication that earned Langer global respect. Grateful and composed, he expressed his wish to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit from a man who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to overlook.
From Fire to Celebration: Golf’s Emotional Spectrum
While Augusta echoed with memories, another historic course faced danger. Wildfires in California, driven by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and threatened the iconic Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history and a stage for Olympic Games and Major victories, Riviera stood in the path of destruction. Firefighters battled to protect one of golf’s most storied venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück added a personal highlight. The German golfer married fellow tour player Rosie Davies and returned to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, showing how intertwined personal life and professional golf have become.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and share ties through junior golf. While Woods faced injury setbacks and the loss of his mother, his private life once again drew public attention.
At LIV Golf Adelaide, emotions ran high for different reasons. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the 12th hole, the “Watering Hole,” sent fans into a frenzy. Drinks flew, cheers erupted, and Reed raised his arms in celebration. It felt more like a football game than a golf tournament—exactly the vibe LIV Golf aims for.