Golf fans, buckle up! The 2025 season delivered a wild ride, with drama and history both on and off the fairways. From Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited Masters triumph to Scottie Scheffler’s relentless dominance, and from Ryder Cup fireworks to seismic shifts in the sport’s leadership, this year packed more than its share of jaw-dropping moments. Let’s dive into the storylines that defined golf in 2025.
Rory McIlroy’s quest for the Green Jacket had become one of golf’s most compelling sagas. After turning professional in 2007, McIlroy stormed to three major titles—the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, and The Open Championship in 2014—but Augusta National kept eluding him. Year after year, heartbreak followed. He finished T8 in 2014, fourth in 2015, T10 in 2016, T7 in 2017, T5 in 2018 and 2020, and runner-up in 2022. Eleven years after his last major, McIlroy finally seized the elusive Green Jacket in 2025.
The final round of the Masters was a rollercoaster. McIlroy looked poised to falter again when he dumped a wedge into Rae’s Creek on the 13th hole—a shot that had fans groaning from Augusta to Belfast. But he steadied himself, finishing regulation tied at 11-under par with his Ryder Cup teammate, Justin Rose. The playoff, played on the 18th, saw McIlroy rise to the moment, birdieing the hole and clinching not only his first Masters but also the career Grand Slam. Emotional scenes followed, with McIlroy reflecting, “Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard, and if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Love you,” he said, dedicating the win to his daughter Poppy.
Golf legend Tiger Woods joined the chorus of praise, posting, “Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!” The win marked McIlroy’s 29th PGA Tour victory and his fifth major, cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
Not to be outdone, Scottie Scheffler continued his reign as World No. 1, chalking up two more major victories in 2025. Scheffler captured the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow with rounds of 69-68-65-71, finishing at 11 under par—five shots clear of the field. He followed it up with a commanding win at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, carding 17 under par and beating runner-up Harris English by four strokes. Scheffler’s consistency was staggering: in 25 PGA Tour starts this season, he notched six wins, one runner-up, and 17 top-10 finishes. Now, he’s just a U.S. Open title shy of his own career Grand Slam.
But the U.S. Open belonged to JJ Spaun, who stunned the golf world at Oakmont Country Club. Spaun’s victory was a testament to perseverance. Trailing leader Sam Burns at the start of the final round, Spaun rallied on the back nine, highlighted by a dramatic 65-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. He finished two strokes ahead of Robert MacIntyre, clinching his first major title and only his second PGA Tour win since turning pro in 2012. Spaun’s unlikely triumph—he wasn’t even among the pre-tournament favorites—became one of the season’s feel-good stories.
The LPGA Tour saw its own history made, as Jeeno Thitikul ascended to the No. 1 ranking, dethroning Nelly Korda. Thitikul capped her season by winning the CME Group Tour Championship and setting a new single-season scoring average record of 68.68, breaking Annika Sorenstam’s mark from 2002. Her remarkable consistency, averaging four shots under par per round, signaled a changing of the guard in women’s golf.
Off the course, golf’s power structures shifted dramatically. The PGA Tour, still grappling with the aftershocks of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s arrival, underwent a leadership overhaul. Brian Rolapp, a longtime NFL executive, took the reins as CEO in June, with Jay Monahan stepping down at year’s end. Rolapp wasted no time, launching a Future Competition Committee and pledging to “make events that really matter” by ensuring the most competitive fields. “I want to be aggressive,” Rolapp said on the Golf Channel. “Our goal is to make events that really matter. And to make events that really matter, you certainty have to have the most competitive golf you can get with the best players you can get.”
The LPGA also saw new leadership, as Craig Kessler took over and immediately stressed the need for urgency and innovation. “Urgency is at the core of what we’re going to do,” Kessler said. Financial disparities between the tours remained stark, with the PGA Tour securing private equity investments that could top $3 billion, while the LPGA continued to seek new sponsorships and audience engagement.
The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black was, as ever, a cauldron of emotion—and controversy. Team Europe entered the Sunday Singles with a commanding 11.5-4.5 lead, but Team USA mounted a spirited comeback. Wins from Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, and others narrowed the gap, but crucial half-points from Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton sealed a sixth European victory in eight editions, and their first on American soil since 2012. The event was marred by intense heckling, with European players and even McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, targeted by rowdy fans—one of whom threw an empty beer can that struck Stoll. McIlroy later remarked that the crowd seemed more focused on discouraging the Europeans than supporting the home side.
Adding to the spectacle, Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Ryder Cup, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump, who later debuted on the LPGA at The ANNIKA 2025. The American team, captained by Keegan Bradley, came up short, with Bradley describing the loss as “the darkest time of my life. I don’t know how to describe it. Certainly in my career. It was just a tough time.”
Elsewhere, golf’s format continued to evolve. The TGL, a simulator-based league backed by Tiger Woods and McIlroy, launched to solid ratings, while LIV Golf’s team concepts—like the Range Goats—kept stirring conversation. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods made headlines off the course by announcing his relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., in March. “Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts,” Woods posted on Instagram, sparking a viral reaction.
As 2025 draws to a close, golf stands at a crossroads—richer in storylines than ever. With legends cementing their legacies, new stars rising, and the sport’s structure in flux, fans can only wonder what surprises next season will bring.
