A look back at 2025: emotional turning points, personal stories and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
The 2025 golf season was filled with stories of endings and beginnings, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle. Sometimes, a single putt can define an entire year.
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. It didn’t make the cut, but that hardly mattered. After 41 appearances, Langer’s decades-long presence at Augusta earned global respect. Calm and grateful, he expressed his hope to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant of the game.
Golf Amid Flames and Celebration
While Augusta echoed with memories, California’s Riviera Country Club faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires driven by strong winds forced mass evacuations and threatened the historic venue, known for hosting Olympic events, Majors, and celebrity tournaments. Firefighters battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic courses as thousands fled nearby homes.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf Adelaide brought a different kind of heat. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one at the raucous 12th, the “Watering Hole,” sent fans into a frenzy. Drinks flew, cheers erupted, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. It felt more like a football match than a golf event—exactly the vibe LIV Golf aims for.
Personal Stories That Shaped the Season
On the Ladies European Tour, German pro Laura Fünfstück married fellow golfer Rosie Davies, then returned to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, showing how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Tiger Woods made headlines off the course, reportedly dating Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and have children active in junior golf. While Woods dealt with injury and the loss of his mother, his private life drew renewed attention.
Sepp Straka chose family over competition, skipping the DP World Tour Playoffs to be with his newborn son, finally home after two months in intensive care.