Scottie Scheffler maintained his dominance in the sport, Rory McIlroy cemented his place among golf’s elite, and Nelly Korda went an entire year without a win on the LPGA Tour.
The 2025 golf season produced no shortage of defining moments. Scottie Scheffler continued his dominance, Rory McIlroy finally joined one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs by completing the Career Grand Slam, and the LPGA delivered remarkable depth with 29 different winners — none of them Nelly Korda. With no Ryder Cup scheduled for 2026 and the sport still processing McIlroy’s historic Augusta triumph, it is worth reflecting on the tournaments that truly shaped the year.
Here is a ranking of the five standout golfing events of 2025.
The five best golf events of 2025
5. Tour Championship
While the closing hour at East Lake lacked fireworks, few results felt more satisfying. Tommy Fleetwood finally captured his first PGA Tour victory and clinched the FedEx Cup, holding off late challenges from Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley, Scottie Scheffler, and Keegan Bradley in one of the most emotionally rewarding wins of the season.
4. The Players Championship
The full significance of The Players at TPC Sawgrass only became clear later in the year. J.J. Spaun came inches from victory before missing on the 72nd hole, forcing a Monday playoff with McIlroy. McIlroy’s booming opening tee shot set the tone, and when Spaun found water at the 17th, the Northern Irishman secured his second Players title. Spaun would later turn heartbreak into history by winning his first major at the US Open.
3. Ryder Cup
In almost any year, the Ryder Cup would sit comfortably at number one. But the 2025 edition at Bethpage Black failed to meet expectations. The lopsided opening two days, the controversial crowd behavior, and the defensive course setup under Keegan Bradley drained much of the drama. A late U.S. surge on Sunday added some intrigue, but overall it was one of the most anticlimactic Ryder Cups in recent memory.
2. The Evian Championship
No tour matched the LPGA’s competitive depth in 2025. The Evian Championship embodied that perfectly. Grace Kim claimed her maiden major in dramatic fashion, defeating Jeeno Thitikul in a playoff despite finding water on the first extra hole and then sealing victory with an eagle. Meanwhile, amateur sensation Lottie Woad briefly led after reaching the turn in 30 on Sunday, adding another layer of tension to one of the season’s most compelling finishes.
1. The Masters
There could only be one winner. McIlroy’s triumph at Augusta National was the defining sporting moment of 2025. His back nine on Sunday encapsulated his career: control, chaos, and ultimate redemption. After nearly throwing the tournament away at the 13th, McIlroy recovered to force a playoff against Justin Rose, finally completing the Career Grand Slam. The 2025 Masters now sits comfortably alongside the iconic editions of 1986, 1997, and 2019 — the undisputed crown jewel of the year.
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