A look back at emotional turning points, personal stories and dramatic scenes on and off the course in 2025.
The year 2025 was filled with unforgettable golf moments. Legendary careers came to a close, new paths were forged, and the sport delivered everything from heartbreak to triumph. Sometimes, a single putt is all it takes to define a year. Here’s our year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Few images 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. Though he missed the cut, it hardly mattered. The decades he spent competing at Augusta earned him global respect. Langer remained composed and grateful, expressing his wish to return as a non-playing champion. It was a quiet exit for a giant of the game who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to ignore.
From Wildfires to Weddings: Golf’s Emotional Spectrum
While Augusta echoed with memories, another historic course faced danger. Wildfires driven by strong winds forced tens of thousands to evacuate near California’s Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history and ties to Olympic Games and Major victories, the course stood in the path of destruction. Firefighters battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
On a lighter note, Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the Ladies European Tour by marrying fellow pro Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting the balance between personal life and professional sport.
Meanwhile, 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 their children’s involvement in junior golf. Amid a challenging year marked by injury and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again drew public attention.
LIV, Family First, and Health Scares
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified the crowd with a hole-in-one on the 12th hole, the “Watering Hole.” Fans erupted, drinks flew, and Reed celebrated as if at a football game—exactly the kind of spectacle LIV aims to deliver.