Bold Predictions for The World of Golf in 2025
What will 2025 look like in the world of golf? Like everyone else, I have no idea. There will be surprises, tension, storylines, and letdowns. I have previously looked at the upcoming PGA Tour schedule for 2025 and how players go about planning their personal schedules. But what I have not given are my bold predictions for 2025.
Below, in fast forward, are my bold predictions for the world of golf.
Due to rain, the Masters finishes on Monday for the first time since 1983 with Tony Finau winning, but no amateurs making the cut. Only one PGA Professional makes the cut at the PGA; Scottie Scheffler wins. Collin Morikawa wins the US Open, and Shane Lowry wins The Open for the second time. Patrick Cantlay wins The Players, Ludvig Aberg wins two Signature Events, Scheffler wins three, Xander Schauffele wins one, and the USA wins the Ryder Cup.
Scottie Scheffler wins the Player of the Year, Matt McCarty wins Rookie of the Year, and Lanto Griffin has a breakout performance. LIV players Bryson DeChambeau and Joaquin Niemann deliver solid performances in the majors intensifying calls to finalize a deal between the tours and LIV, but no agreement is made. Brooks Koepka wins the LIV individual title and Crushers GC wins the team title.
Tiger plays in the Masters and PGA, missing the cut in both. He is offered a special invitation to the US Open but declines. At the PGA Professional National Championship, Alex Beach wins for the second time. One of the professionals from my section has a solid performance but just misses out on making the top 20 and the PGA Championship. I have a solid showing in my Section’s Professional Championship but miss out on making it to the 2026 Championship.
Nelly Korda defends her title at the Chevron Championship, Rose Zhang wins the US Women’s Open, Lydia Ko wins the KPMG Women’s PGA, Hannah Green wins the Evian, and Celine Boutier wins the AIG Women’s Open. Nelly Korda wins the Player of the Year. Amateur Ingrid Lindblad wins the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, finishes in the top 10 of a Tour event, turns pro during the season, and wins Rookie of the Year.
Steven Alker wins the Regions Tradition, Ernie Els the Senior PGA Championship, Padraig Harrington the US Senior Open, Stephen Ames the Kaulig Companies (Senior Players) Championship, and Richard Bland wins The Open Championship. Leta Lindley successfully defends the US Senior Women’s Open.
In other sports …
In soccer, Liverpool wins the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, Aston Villa wins the FA Cup, and the USA wins the Gold Cup. Flamengo wins the Club World Cup but the Seattle Sounders make news with a surprisingly deep run.
In football, the Buffalo Bills defeat the Detroit Lions to finally win their first Super Bowl. Despite a backup quarterback, Georgia advances to the CFP Championship Game only to face Texas for the third time in the season. Texas wins. Boise State wins their Quarterfinal game but loses a heartbreaker in the Semifinal. My hometown New Orleans Saints are 9-7 on New Year’s Eve and finish 2025 needing a win in week 18 to make the playoffs. The NCAA attempts to make changes to NIL and the Transfer Portal but, after a fight in the courts, those are kicked to 2026 or beyond.
Alabama gets revenge on Vanderbilt, finishes 9-3 again, and again misses out on the CFP. The four teams with byes in the 2025 CFP are Oregon, Miami, Georgia, and Boise State.
Penn State wins the national championship in volleyball.
In basketball, LeBron announces he will retire at the end of the 2024-2025 season. The Lakers go on a run but are eventually eliminated in the Western Conference Finals in Game 6 by the eventual champions Oklahoma City. Kansas cuts down the nets at the men’s Final Four, and UCLA beats South Carolina in the Women’s Final Four.
In baseball, the Guardians win the World Series, Virginia wins the College World Series, and Oklahoma State wins the Women’s College World Series.
In hockey, the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup, Michigan wins the Frozen Four, and Ohio State wins the Women’s Frozen Four.
In men’s tennis, Sinner wins the Australian Open, Fritz the French Open, Medvedev Wimbledon, and Carlos Alcaraz the US Open. On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula wins the Australian Open, Iga Swiatek the French and US Open, and Katie Boulter thrills her home country by winning Wimbledon.
And, a year from now, we will see how I did. Buckle up and put on your hard hat, we are in for quite a ride in 2025!
Happy (almost) New Year!