A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories and unforgettable moments on and off the course.
The year 2025 delivered a full spectrum of stories in golf. From career farewells to new beginnings, from crises to clarity, and from quiet emotion to loud celebration, the sport saw it all. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire year. Here’s the golf year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Final Walk at Augusta
There are few images in golf more powerful 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. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the legacy he built over decades at Augusta—respected not just in Germany, but globally. Langer remained composed, grateful, and expressed his hope to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet farewell from a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
Golf in Crisis and Celebration
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course in California faced a different kind of challenge. Wildfires, driven by fierce winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and crept dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events and Major victories, Riviera found itself in the evacuation zone. As residents fled, firefighters battled to protect one of golf’s most storied venues.
Across the globe in Adelaide, LIV Golf delivered a moment of pure spectacle. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the 12th, known as the “Watering Hole,” sent fans into a frenzy. Drinks flew, arms raised, and the scene resembled a football game more than a golf tournament—exactly the kind of energy LIV Golf aims to bring.
Personal Stories That Defined the Year
Golf in 2025 was also shaped by deeply personal stories. On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück married fellow pro Rosie Davies and returned to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Tiger Woods made headlines not for his play, but for his personal life. Rumors swirled about a relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and