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, new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crises and clarity, emotion and spectacle, golf had it all this year. Sometimes, a single putt is enough to define an entire season. Here’s the year in review.
Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell at Augusta
Some images in golf speak louder than words. 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 starts, it was time to say goodbye. He missed the cut, but that hardly mattered. What resonated was the decades Langer spent walking those fairways—earning respect not just in Germany, but across the globe. True to form, Langer remained composed and grateful, expressing his wish to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit from a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
From Fire to Celebration: A Year of Contrasts
While Augusta echoed with memories, another iconic course in California faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and crept dangerously close to Riviera Country Club. With nearly a century of history, Riviera has hosted Olympic events, Majors, and countless celebrities. As flames threatened one of golf’s most storied venues, emergency crews fought to protect it from destruction.
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 table linens,” she joked, highlighting the delicate balance between personal life and professional focus in modern golf.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course. Reports linked him romantically to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and were seen together multiple times. With their children involved in junior golf, their paths naturally crossed. Amid a tough year marked by injury and the loss of his mother, Woods’ private life once again drew public attention.
Emotion and Impact: From LIV to Family First
At LIV Golf Adelaide, Patrick Reed delivered a moment of pure electricity. His hole-in-one at the