A look back at 2025’s most emotional turning points, personal stories and unforgettable golf moments on and off the course.
From quiet farewells to loud celebrations, 2025 was a year full of powerful moments in golf. Careers ended, new paths began, and both crisis and clarity shaped the season. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define a year. 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 took his final putt. It didn’t make the cut, but that hardly mattered. After 41 starts, Langer’s decades-long presence at Augusta earned global respect. Grateful and composed, Langer expressed his hope to return often as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit for a legend who never sought the spotlight but was impossible to ignore.
Golf in the Face of Fire
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course faced a different kind of challenge. Wildfires in California, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the historic Riviera Country Club. A nearly century-old venue that has hosted Olympic events, Majors, and countless celebrities, Riviera found itself in the fire’s path. As residents fled, emergency crews battled to protect one of golf’s most storied locations.
Personal Stories That Moved the Game
Beyond the courses, personal moments shaped the year. On the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück married fellow pro Rosie Davies and returned to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting the delicate balance between personal life and professional sport.
Tiger Woods also made headlines—this time 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 junior golf involvement. Amidst a year marked by injury and his mother’s passing, Woods’ private life once again drew public attention.
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed electrified the crowd with a hole-in-one on the 12th, known as the “Watering Hole.” Fans erupted, drinks flew, and the celebration resembled a football game more than a golf event—exactly the atmosphere LIV aims to create.