Even though 2025 is just a few hours away, golf never takes a vacation. Or, anyway, not much of one. This week at the Sentry, the PGA Tour’s 2025 schedule begins in earnest, and in style, in Hawaii, barely a month after the 2024 autumn season concluded. Everything you need to know about the 2025 season, from Scottie to Tiger and all points in between, is right here.
1.Can Scottie Scheffler be stopped?
Currently, Scottie Scheffler did a very excellent job of stopping himself; nevertheless, he will be out of competition for at least a few tournaments due to a bizarre injury he sustained on Christmas that sent him to the hospital for surgery to remove pieces of shattered glass from his hand. The rest of the field must be relieved by the news, since they witnessed Scheffler thrash his way to seven Tour wins, a second Masters victory, and an Olympic gold medal last season. and, as if his year wasn’t already cinematic enough, have a baby and serve time in prison. No one has yet to come close once he’s back on the course.
2.Will Rory McIlroy win a major championship at last?
Rory McIlroy’s last major victory was over ten years ago. When he led Bryson DeChambeau by two strokes with five holes left at Pinehurst last year, he came as near as he has in the last ten years, only to give up the lead and the U.S. Open on the last hole. That will make an impression, but luckily for McIlroy, who still appears to be at the top of his form, he will have more opportunities.
3.When will Tiger Woods return to the game of golf?
Woods might soon be seen playing a different kind of golf at the tech-heavy TGL indoor golf league, which starts next week. (We’ll talk about that later.) Who knows if the course will be offered again. Following back surgery in September, Woods has acknowledged that he is far from tournament form. He might have used a cart at the PNC Championship, where he just played with his son Charlie. Last year, Woods participated in just five events, missing the cut in three of the four majors and withdrawing from one. His lone full tournament was the Masters, when he finished last among those who made the cut but maintained his streak of made cuts. It might take some time before we see Woods in the mix again.
4.How will 2024 be topped by Xander Schauffele?
Look no further than Xander Schauffele to see how quickly your life and career can change in the game of golf. He had an underachiever record at this time last year, nearly winning major after major but failing to seal the deal. Right now? He is two victories away from a career slam and has two majors. He is the biggest danger to Scheffler since he has figured out how to close on Sundays. Scheffler-Schauffele, Schauffele-Scheffler … Please keep the majors announcers in mind this year.
5.In 2025, will Jordan Spieth be back to his best?
In relation to athletes aiming for a career grand slam, A long-delayed operation on Jordan Spieth’s left wrist to repair nerve problems ended his 2024 season in August. He is a long way from his major-winning days. Spieth missed the cut in both the Players Championship and the Masters, and he hasn’t been in the top 10 since last April. Golf is better when he’s in the hunt on Sundays, and he’s one of the most well-liked players and vocalists in the game.
6.Who’s the next breakout star on Tour?
Consider Ludvig Åberg, the Swedish flamethrower who very nearly won two majors the very first time he played in both. He finished solo second in Augusta, and faded late at the U.S. Open to finish T12. (He also missed the cut in the other two majors.) He ranked seventh overall in strokes gained, fourth in total driving. If he can clean up his putting, where he ranks 67th on Tour, he’s going to be a force for years to come.
7.Who’s going to have a Schauffele-like bust-out season?
Collin Morikawa was close in every major last year — he finished in the top 4 in both the Masters and PGA Championship, and no worse than T16 in any major — but couldn’t quite break through. He’s not exactly an unknown, given that he has won two majors already, but he has only one victory since that 2021 Open Championship, and none in 2024. He ranks fifth overall in strokes gained, and he’s one of the most accurate drivers on Tour. He’s also one of the most accurate putters in the game, all of which is a recipe for sustained success. Is 2025 the year?
8.This season, who will win their first major?
Viktor Hovland had a rough start to 2024 after winning the FedEx Cup in 2023, missing the cut at three of the four majors. Hovland is long overdue for his first major, though, if he can regain some of his Ryder Cup/FedEx Cup magic from 2023. A T2 performance at the FedEx St. Jude was a promising return to form.
9.Who should we watch as a rookie?
Since Luke Clanton still needs to complete his senior year at Florida State, he isn’t officially a Tour rookie yet. He has already participated in eight Tour events, placed in the top 10 in four, and made the cut in seven. He finished T41 as a World No. 1 amateur.
10.How far along are the talks between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour?
For a year and a half, the Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which provides funding for LIV, have had a “framework agreement” in place, but not much has come of it. With the addition of new executives, sponsors, and TV deals, LIV is still going strong as a tour. External investment has increased the Tour’s wealth. Although neither of them actually “needs” the other right now, golf fans would undoubtedly want to see more interaction between the top players on both tours. Majors are the only place it’s expected to occur in 2025. More than that? Money speaks.
