The calendar is now coming to an end for 2025. And the year showcased plenty of individual achievements and broader outcomes impacting golf globally.
Like any situation in competitive sports – what happened in one year does not transfer itself to the following one.
Professional golf is rapidly evolving with a plethora of players emerging and seeking to make their mark in the game.
The highs achieved were counterbalanced by the lows others endured. A new year means new opportunities. But before we say “good-bye” to 2025 it’s worth remembering those who made their respective marks – from the memorable moments to the mystifying misfires.
Scottie’s sensational show
After cutting his finger accidentally during Christmas dinner at the end of 2024, the start of the 2025 season was delayed for the world-ranked #1 Scottie Scheffler.
While Rory McIlroy made early gains in 2025, it was Scheffler who turned the script at the CJ Cup in his hometown Dallas area. Scheffler blitzed the field with a PGA Tour record typing 253 total via -31 for 72 holes.
Scheffler’s dominance flourished from that point forward — winning two majors (PGA Championship and The Open Championship) — bringing his overall total to four.
If the Texas transplant wins the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in 2026 he will become just the 7th member of the career Grand Slam club.
Incredibly in 2025, the 29-year-old finished first six times in 30% of his 20 starts, was in the top 10 a total of 17 times and in the top 25 in all of them.
That consistency sealed him being named for the fourth consecutive time in claiming the Jack Nicklaus PGA Tour Player of the Year award.
Scheffler first attained the top position in the world rankings in March 2022. He started his current streak in March 2023 — bringing the total to 172 consecutive weeks as of December 28, 2025. That mark is third only to Tiger Woods who was number one for 281 consecutive weeks (June 2005-October 2010) and 264 consecutive weeks (August 1999-September 2004).
Can Scheffler be pushed off the high perch he occupies? That remains to be seen.
Scheffler has won 19 times on tour since the start of the 2022 season and has earned about $99.5 million in on-course prize money during his career. He collected about $27.7 million during the 2025 season.
Beyond the tour-leading six victories, Scheffler captured the Byron Nelson Award for best scoring average (68.131) for the third season in a row. He ranked first in scoring average in the first (67.45), second (68), third (68.4) and fourth (68.1) rounds, becoming the first golfer since Woods (2000) to lead the PGA Tour in all four rounds in a single season.
Woods paid Scottie the ultimate compliment when assessing his game.
“It’s just a matter of… if he putts decent, he’s going to win; if he putts great, he blows away fields; if he putts bad, he contends,” Tiger said. “He’s just that good as a ball-striker.”
Enough said.
Rory’s story now is securing ultimate glory
Yes, the major-less streak came to an end for the talented Northern Irishman when claiming the famed green jacket at The Masters and his 5th overall major title.
That inability to win in the game’s four premier events stretched back to the 2014 PGA Championship.
The weight of that futility was clearly lifted from the 36-year-old’s shoulders.
McIlroy came into Augusta playing some of his finest golf — winning the AT&T event on the Monterey Peninsula and then securing his second Players Championship title at TPC Sawgrass.
Rory had stated his goals for 2025 and ending the goose egg in majors was foremost. Doing so at Augusta not only ended that ignominious failure but also elevated him as just the sixth player to achieve the career Grand Slam.
In addition, McIlroy wanted to achieve team success with a road victory for team Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup matches at Bethpage. The Euros prevailed by withstanding a furious last day American comeback by a score of 15-13. Interestingly, McIlroy was paired against Scheffler in the concluding day’s single match and suffered a defeat.
McIlroy has stated his intention going forward is setting in place his legacy in the game. Unlike Scheffler’s total consistency, McIlroy had lapses where his play was substandard.
In the three other majors – McIlroy was T47 at the PGA Championship on a Quail Hollow course where he had won four times previously. At Oakmont in the US Open he finished T19 and at The Open Championship at his home venue Royal Portrush he was a non-factor with a T7 placement.
Watching McIlroy in peak form is an exhilarating sensation but can he overtake the 800-pound gorilla named Scheffler? For that to happen his overall consistency will need to rise above his American rival. Nonetheless, if anything is certain for the 36-year-old the major-less monkey came off his back in 2025 and the feelings of total joy and relief were immeasurable.
LIV and let die — is new life possible in 2026?
The momentum for LIV Golf has, to be kind, charitably stalled.
In June 2023, then PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir al-
, head of the Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), sat together during a CNBC interview and announced a “framework” agreement between the two sides. The groundwork was established for what looked to be a merger between the two parties.
What seemed improbable given the PGA Tour’s original strong opposition was then turned on its head.
But in the weeks, then months now years since — the movement to being connected has completely petered out.
In response to a well-financed rival, the PGA Tour introduced and implemented a range of sweeping changes to its overall structure.
The fanfare for LIV Golf reached its high point in December 2023 when world-ranked number three Jon Rahm left the PGA Tour. The stage was then set for possibly other key PGA Tour players to leave. But, that did not happen — then or now.
LIV Golf realizing its relevance was sliding downward, opted in 2025 to change its 54-hole competitive structure to 72 holes for 2026. The reason? Securing world ranking points for its players. However, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) board still has not budged in doing so. The chief concerns remain about LIV’s closed-shop format, limited field size and lack of relegation / open qualifiers, though LIV has re-engaged in constructive talks, aiming for points to help players qualify for majors.
Money catapulted LIV Golf upwards but sustaining flight in competitive professional golf means having recognition via world rankings points.
The pro golf scene also saw a number of internal personnel moves. The new year ahead will also see the phasing out of Monahan and the ascension of new CEO Brian Rolapp — the hiring announced in June, 2025. LIV Golf also opted to reposition itself with the September sidelining of Greg Norman whose contract expired after four years. The Shark’s departure meant ending his tenure as the league’s public face and inaugural CEO. The reins are now in the hands of Scott O’Neil.
Television exposure is another issue as LIV Golf operates on the outer fringes of even minimal awareness. Couple that with a continued promotion of team golf which has never secured an iota of interest – either for golf fans or, more importantly, the various television networks.
The LIV Golf patient started 2025 with a concerning MRI and has now moved into the intensive care unit. Matters were not helped when five-time major winner Brooks Koepka announced in December his leaving LIV a year sooner than his contract required. Now, the question becomes, who will be next to bolt?
More importantly, will 2026 see the need for last rites or a complete renaissance? O’Neil will need to do his imitation of Merlin in order to resurrect this fledgling operation. While not dead yet, the LIV Golf patient appears to be lingering in the intensive care unit for now.
Keegan Bradley / USA Ryder Cup Captain —
the twists and turns and ultimately a team defeat
When Bethpage Black was announced in September 2023 as the host site for the 2025 Ryder Cup matches it was anticipated either Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods would serve as captain of team USA.
The two most prominent American players were seen as logical team captains — not just for one match but likely several going forward.
When LIV Golf began to operate, the defection of Mickelson took place in June 2022. With Lefty out of the picture, the PGA of America believed Woods would be the front runner and would accept when asked. The procrastination of Woods dragged following the Rome matches and extended itself into 2024.
When the US Open passed in June 2024, there had still been no decision made. Seth Waugh, CEO for the PGA of America, made one final attempt to secure Woods, but Tiger finally opted to withdraw his name from consideration. With no Mickelson or Woods, the matter of the Captaincy became a frantic search for a suitable choice. Waugh mentioned the name of Keegan Bradey to the selection committee and the group agreed to offer him the position.
Bradley had a connection to St. John’s having played collegiately at the Queens, NY university and was very familiar with the Black Course having played there numerous times.
On June 23, Waugh contacted Bradley and offered the stunned New Englander native the position which he quickly accepted.
The formal announcement took place Monday, July 8. At the press event, Bradley indicated he would not pick himself as playing Captain unless he finished in the top six positions which garner automatic selection.
When Bradley won The Travelers event for a second time in July, 2025 what appeared to be a closed door captaincy issue re-emerged with Keegan walking back his previous stance.
Bradley kept the matter alive for a number of weeks and the continuous chatter remained alive up and until the final USA roster was announced August 27.
Going into the matches , Bradley in concert with senior PGA of America officials, set up the Black Course in a benign fashion. The net result? The general stern character of the course featured minimal rough and greens overly receptive to approach play. During the matches the decisions Bradley made were equally head-scratching. He paired Collin Morikawa and Harris English together for foursome play on Friday and Saturday. Both matches were lopsided as neither man showed any quality form.
Bradley was not helped by the fact Scottie Scheffler played in all five matches and produced just a single point – that coming in the final singles mates against Rory McIlroy.
The USA side made a valiant comeback the last day after trailing by seven points. The Euros were able to thwart what would have been the largest final day comeback in event history when Shane Lowry secured a halved match against Russell Henley by sinking an 8-foot birdie putt at the final hole.
Bradley was defended by members of the USA team in the aftermath. Nonetheless, the slowness in action by the PGA of America and the resulting internal fumbles that ensued meant Europe retaining the Cup for the 11th time in the last 15 matches.
