A look back at 2025’s 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, new paths were taken, and golf delivered everything from farewells to fresh starts, crises to clarity, emotion to spectacle. 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 rising to its feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt, it was one of those rare moments. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the decades Langer spent on this course, earning respect not just in Germany but around the world. Langer himself remained composed—grateful, clear-minded, and hopeful to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to ignore.
From Fire to Festivities: A Year of Contrasts
While Augusta was filled with nostalgia, another historic course in California faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires, fueled 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 Olympic events, Major victories, and celebrity appearances, the club found itself in the evacuation zone. As thousands fled their homes, emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, love took center stage. German golfer Laura Fünfstück married fellow tour player Rosie Davies, and just days later was back on the course. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of table linens,” she joked, highlighting how closely intertwined personal life and professional golf can be.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both based in Florida, they were spotted together several times. With their children active in junior golf, their paths naturally crossed. In a year marked by injury and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again drew public attention.
Emotions, Decisions, and the Unexpected
At LIV Golf Adelaide, emotions ran high—loudly