This year in golf was filled with emotional farewells, personal stories, and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year of stories. Legendary careers came to an end, new paths were forged, and the game of golf delivered everything from crisis to clarity, from emotion to spectacle. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire season. Here’s the 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 made his final putt. It wasn’t enough to make the cut, but that didn’t matter. What mattered were the 41 starts and decades of presence on this hallowed ground. Langer, ever composed and humble, bid farewell with gratitude and the hope of returning as a non-playing champion. It was a quiet exit from a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to overlook.
From Fire to Festivities: A Year of Contrasts
While Augusta was filled with memories, another iconic course faced a different kind of drama. In California, wildfires driven by strong winds forced tens of thousands to evacuate, threatening the historic Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including Olympic events, Major wins, and celebrity appearances, Riviera found itself in the fire zone. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, German pro Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the season with her wedding to fellow tour player Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, showing how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Off the course, Tiger Woods made headlines not for his game, but for a rumored relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and connected through junior golf, their appearances together sparked media buzz during a year in which Woods also faced injury and the loss of his mother.
Moments That Moved the Golf World
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified fans with a hole-in-one on the 12th hole, the infamous “Watering Hole.” The crowd erupted, drinks flew, and the scene resembled a football game more than a golf tournament — exactly the kind of energy