A look back at 2025: emotional turning points, personal stories and unforgettable scenes on and off the course.
2025 was a year full of stories. Legendary careers came to an end while new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crisis 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 their feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt. After 41 appearances, it was time to say goodbye. The putt didn’t make the cut, but no one cared. It was the decades of dedication that earned Langer global respect. Calm and grateful, he expressed his wish to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to ignore.
From Fire to Celebration: Golf’s Emotional Spectrum
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 and came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, including hosting the Olympics and Majors, the club found itself in the fire’s path. Emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, German golfer Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the season by marrying fellow tour player Rosie Davies. Days later, she was back on the course. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
And then there was Tiger Woods. Though sidelined by injury and mourning the loss of his mother, Woods made headlines for his rumored relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida and active in junior golf circles, their connection sparked media buzz, proving Woods remains a focal point even off the course.
LIV Golf, Family First, and Health Scares
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified fans with a hole-in-one on the infamous 12th hole, the “Watering Hole.” The crowd erupted, drinks flew, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. It felt more like a football game than a golf tournament—exactly the vibe LIV Golf aims to create.