August is here, which means the 2025 golf major championship season is over.
All in all, this year was… well, average.
The season featured the typical ups and downs, out-of-this-world shots, and 72nd-hole dramatics, but these are now the standard of professional golf. Spectators have come to expect competitive tournaments almost every weekend, and while some events produce runaway victors, they often come down to the wire. It’s no longer a surprise when a tournament is decided on the last few holes.
However, while the season met that standard, it wouldn’t be fair to say there weren’t at least a few moments that went above the threshold.
Fans witnessed Rory McIlroy’s historic win at the Masters, overcoming a late surge from former champion Justin Rose to become the sixth player to complete the Career Grand Slam. J.J. Spaun shocked the world when he claimed the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, one of the most difficult courses in the country, if not the world.
Then, of course, Scottie Scheffler returned to his own standard, claiming both the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club and the Open at Royal Portrush, bringing his career major victories to four. There’s no arguing over his fairway abilities and that he’s the best ball striker on tour, which makes up for any disadvantages his inconsistent putting may put him in.
With the season taking a turn, there are a few harsh realities that players, fans, and tour officials need to face before the 2026 season gets underway. The first has to do with the financial side of the game.
Tournaments that end in tight races happen more often in the PGA Tour’s signature events — which they introduced only recently in 2024 — and the majors, suggesting that the more money that’s involved, the higher the chance of a memorable weekend. The dollar signs are what draw the top players, while some of the tournaments with smaller purses don’t draw the same level of talent.
Money doesn’t seem to be an issue for golf at the moment, but we’ve seen what’s been happening to other sports when dollar bills take precedent over everything else. It may not be the sport’s biggest concern right now, but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Speaking of cash, the LIV and PGA Tours made virtually no progress in reaching an agreement or compromise on how the two leagues will combine, if at all. Back in July, LIV applied to have its players in the Official World Golf Ranking but was denied for the second time. As of now, there aren’t any signs of a move happening anytime soon, which makes it somewhat awkward when the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm are suddenly on the tee box at a mainstream event.
Now, the season takes its final turn to the PGA Tour playoffs in addition to the Ryder Cup in late September at the famed Bethpage Black, where Team U.S.A. will look to reclaim what they lost in Rome in 2023.
I wrote about this last year, but most golf fans will tune out from the sport until Team Europe boards their flight for the Ryder Cup. It’s an unfortunate reality, but the playoff events don’t get nearly the same hype or coverage that the majors do, and that’s because a lot of the players have already begun looking to next year and aren’t playing with the same seriousness.
The PGA Tour, in my view, should still rethink its playoff format and consider giving more players a chance to win the TOUR Championship later this month. While it makes sense to reward a player with a better starting position because of consistent play throughout the season, it’s a turn-off for fans whose favorite golfers stand little chance of winning because they start so far behind.
That’s especially the case when Scheffler is the one who’s given the head start.
If there’s anything on fans’ Christmas wish lists, it’s for there to be a change within golf. Something needs to happen between the LIV and PGA Tours before it separates the game too much, and a new competition or series of events should be created to keep the excitement going for longer. With the major season being just four quick months, PGA Tour officials should plan on adding something unique both before and after that period.
Over the last couple of years, it’s been a “wait-and-see” phase. There’s a lot that’s up in the air without any incoming gusts to make a move.
In the end, though, all us fans can do is continue to watch and be faithful to the sport we love. But for the game’s sake, I hope that some changes are made — and soon.