A look back at 2025: 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, golf delivered 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, the crowd rose to its feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt. After 41 appearances, it was time to say goodbye. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the decades Langer spent at Augusta, earning respect not only in Germany but around the world. Langer remained composed—grateful, clear-minded, and hopeful to return as a non-competing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to ignore.
Fire Threatens Riviera, LIV Ignites Adelaide
While Augusta was filled with nostalgia, another iconic course in California faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires, driven by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate as flames approached the historic Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events and Major victories, the course found itself in the danger zone. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied venues.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf Adelaide delivered a different kind of heat. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the 12th hole—nicknamed the “Watering Hole”—sent fans into a frenzy. Drinks flew, cheers erupted, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. The scene felt more like a football match than a golf tournament—exactly the vibe LIV Golf aims for.
Personal Stories: From Love to Loss
Beyond the fairways, personal moments shaped the year. On the Ladies European Tour, German golfer Laura Fünfstück married fellow pro Rosie Davies, then quickly returned to competition. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of table settings,” she joked—highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Tiger Woods made headlines off the course as well, reportedly dating Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida, they were seen