A look back at 2025: emotional turning points, personal stories, and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to an end, new paths were forged, and the game of golf delivered everything from farewells and fresh starts to crises and comebacks. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define a year. Here’s the golf 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 rising to its feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt, it was one of those rare moments. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the legacy Langer built over decades at Augusta—respected not just in Germany, but worldwide. True to form, Langer remained composed and grateful, expressing his wish to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to ignore.
From Fire to Fairways: A Year of Contrasts
While Augusta was filled with nostalgia, another iconic course faced a different kind of drama. In California, wildfires driven by strong winds forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the historic Riviera Country Club. A venue nearly a century old, host to Olympic events, Majors, and celebrity tournaments, Riviera found itself in the evacuation zone. As residents fled, emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied courses from disaster.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the season with her wedding to fellow pro Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the tee, smiling, \”Nice to think about my swing again instead of table settings.\” A reminder of how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Stars, Surprises and Personal Priorities
Tiger Woods made headlines off the course, reportedly dating Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida, the pair were seen together multiple times. Their children are active in junior golf, and their connection sparked public interest during a challenging year for Woods, marked by injury and the loss of his mother.
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed ignited the crowd with a hole-in-one on the infamous 12th hole