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 a close while new paths were forged. Between farewells and fresh starts, crisis 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.
One Last Augusta – Bernhard Langer’s Quiet Farewell
Some golf images speak louder than words. When Bernhard Langer stood on Augusta’s 18th green in April, fans rose to their feet as the two-time Masters champion swung his putter one final time. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. The final putt missed the cut, but no one seemed to care. It was the decades Langer spent on that course that earned global respect. Langer remained composed—grateful, clear, and hopeful to return often as a “non-playing champion.” A quiet exit for a giant who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to ignore.
From Wildfires to Weddings: Golf’s Human Side
While Augusta echoed with memories, another historic course in California faced a very different challenge. Raging wildfires, fueled by strong winds, forced tens of thousands to evacuate and came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club. A nearly century-old venue, host to Olympic events, Majors, and Hollywood elites, found itself in the evacuation zone. As thousands fled their homes, emergency crews fought to protect one of golf’s most iconic locations.
Elsewhere, personal milestones took center stage. On the Ladies European Tour, German golfer Laura Fünfstück married fellow pro Rosie Davies. Just days later, she was back on the course, ready to compete. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of tablecloths,” she joked, highlighting how closely personal life and professional golf intertwine.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods made headlines not for his play, but his personal life. Reports linked him to Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and were seen together multiple times. With both families involved in junior golf, their paths naturally crossed. For Woods, it was a year marked by injury and the loss of his mother—yet once again, his private life drew public attention.
Drama, Devotion and Defiance
At LIV Golf Adelaide, emotion took a louder turn. Patrick Reed made history with