A look back at 2025’s emotional turning points, personal stories and powerful 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, crises 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 speak louder than words. But when Bernhard Langer stood on the 18th green at Augusta in April, the crowd rising to their feet as the two-time Masters champion took his final putt, it was one of those moments. After 41 starts, it was time to say goodbye. The final putt didn’t make the cut, but that hardly mattered. It was the decades Langer spent on that course that earned global respect. Langer himself remained composed—grateful, clear, and hopeful to return as a non-playing champion. A quiet exit from a man who never sought the spotlight, yet was impossible to overlook.
Golf in the Face of Fire and Celebration
While Augusta echoed with memories, another historic course in California faced a different kind of drama. Wildfires, driven 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, Major wins, and Hollywood legends, found itself in the evacuation zone. As thousands fled their homes, emergency crews fought to protect one of golf’s most iconic venues.
Meanwhile, on the Ladies European Tour, a heartwarming moment unfolded. German golfer Laura Fünfstück married fellow tour player Rosie Davies, returning to competition just days later. “Nice to think about my swing again instead of table settings,” she joked, showing how closely intertwined personal life and professional golf can be.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods made headlines—not for his game, but his personal life. Rumors swirled about a relationship with Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Both live in Florida and share a connection through their children’s involvement in junior golf. While Woods dealt with injury and the loss of his mother, his private life once again took center stage.
In Adelaide, LIV Golf brought the noise. Patrick Reed’s hole-in-one on the infamous 12th “Watering Hole” sent fans into a frenzy. Drinks flew, cheers erupted, and Reed raised his arms in triumph. The scene felt more