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. Great careers came to an end, new paths were taken. 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 say more than words. But when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, fans rising to their feet as the two-time Masters champion swung his putter one last time, it was one of those moments. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. The final putt didn’t make the cut, but no one cared. It was the decades Langer spent on that course that earned global respect. Langer himself remained composed—grateful, clear, and hopeful to return often as a “non-playing champion.” A quiet exit from a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
From Wildfires to Weddings: Golf’s Human Side
While Augusta was filled with memories, another historic course in California faced a different kind of challenge. Devastating 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, Olympic ties, Major wins, and celebrity appearances, Riviera found itself in the evacuation zone. As thousands fled, emergency crews fought to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, Laura Fünfstück brought warmth to the season with her wedding to fellow tour pro Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of table linens,” she joked, showing how closely personal life and pro golf intertwine.
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 seen together multiple times—golf, after all, brings people together. As Woods dealt with injury and the passing of his mother, his private life once again drew public attention.
Big Shots and Bigger Emotions
At LIV Golf Adelaide, emotions ran high—and loud. Patrick Reed made history with a hole-in-one on the 12th,