There is so much for golf fans around the world to look forward to in 2025. The Golfing Gazette’s experts have predicted it all.
From Scottie Scheffler’s dominant Masters display to Bryson DeChambeau’s US Open glory, 2024 produced so many memorable moments.
And this year promises to be even more exciting, with the bonus of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September.
Will Rory McIlroy end his 10-year major drought and how many events will Tiger Woods play? Here we have predictions for all the main talking points in 2025.
- READ MORE: Predicting the USA and European teams at the 2025 Ryder Cup with four LIV Golf players involved
The four major winners
Sam Stone
- Masters: Scottie Scheffler
- PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy
- US Open: Ludvig Aberg
- The Open: Justin Thomas
Scheffler will make it back-to-back Masters wins at Augusta. McIlroy will continue his sublime form at Quail Hollow and end his eleven-year wait for major number five at the PGA Championship. Ludvig Aberg will win the US Open and Justin Thomas will run out victorious at The Open.
Lee Connor
- Masters: Scottie Scheffler
- PGA Championship: Jon Rahm
- US Open: Ludvig Aberg
- The Open: Rory McIlroy
I fancy four separate winners. I think Scottie will win the Masters again, with Aberg taking the US Open. I think Jon Rahm may add the PGA if he’s definitely playing and I think McIlroy finally wins number five by winning The Open.
Jordan Harris
- Masters: Collin Morikawa
- PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy
- US Open: Xander Schauffele
- The Open: Tyrrell Hatton
The forgotten man Collin Morikawa will build on three top 10s in a row at the Masters with a win at Augusta National. McIlroy will continue his love affair with Quail Hollow at the PGA Championship. Xander Schauffele’s record at the US Open is outrageous considering he’s yet to win the event. And Tyrrell Hatton will become a major champion at The Open at Royal Portrush.
Peter Lynch
- Masters: Scottier Scheffler
- PGA Championship: Ludvig Aberg
- US Open: Tommy Fleetwood
- The Open: Rory McIlroy
I think it could be a big year for European players, although I’m still backing Scottie Scheffler to kickstart proceedings with a Masters win. Ludvig Aberg gets the nod for the PGA Championship, with Tommy Fleetwood my pick for the US Open. And I’m tipping Rory McIlroy to close the curtain with a dramatic win on home soil at The Open Championship.
Who will end 2025 as world number one?
Sam Stone: Scottie Scheffler
Pretty sure Scheffler could take the entire year off and still be the world’s number-one player. After his ninth win of 2024 at the Hero World Challenge, he looks set to hold that spot for the foreseeable future.
Lee Connor: Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler will remain. I just can’t see him letting up.
Jordan Harris: Scottie Scheffler
Is it even possible for Scheffler to lose that spot in the next year? Based on how he played at the Hero World Challenge, it is hard to see anyone overtaking him.
Peter Lynch: Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler is absolutely showing no signs whatsoever of slowing down as 2025 approaches, and I think he will be very hard to topple once more.
LIV Golf 2025 individual champion
Sam Stone: Joaquin Niemann
Joaquin Niemann led the way for most of the 2024 season and was pipped during the Individual Championship in Chicago. The Chilean is now one of golf’s elite-level stars and could be destined for yet more success on LIV Golf and potentially even a major championship.
Lee Connor: Jon Rahm
It will be Rahm again in my opinion. Just don’t see anyone being good enough to consistently push him. Potentially Bryson or maybe Niemann again, but I think Rahm will take it.
Jordan Harris: Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith has not won on LIV since 2023, but he did lead Ripper to victory at the Team Championship. If anyone is going to stop Rahm from going back-to-back, it may be the Aussie.
Peter Lynch: Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, not even his own at times… but if he gets his mental approach right, I think he has every chance of an individual win.
Which top player will join LIV Golf in 2025?
Sam Stone: Hideki Matsuyama
I think, at some point, Hideki Matsuyama will make the move to LIV. Speculation has emerged previously and if a Japan stop is added to the league, adding the former Masters champion makes sense. I also think Min Woo Lee is one to watch. With Ripper GC proving ever-popular down under, a big Aussie name joining Cam Smith’s team cannot be ruled out.
Lee Connor: Viktor Hovland
I’ve always said Viktor Hovland or Matsuyama will be next but I’d not be surprised to see someone like Jason Day move eventually. For now, I’ll go with Hovland.
Jordan Harris: Rickie Fowler
It feels like the days of true superstars joining LIV may be behind us, but maybe a bit of a shock could come from landing a Rickie Fowler. With the PGA Tour cards being cut down to 100 from 2026, Fowler is someone who needs to improve drastically in the coming months.
Peter Lynch: Hideki Matsuyama
LIV Golf is seemingly finding it difficult to persuade big names to leave the PGA Tour behind, but they may have one or two more tricks up their sleeve, with Hideki Matsuyama potentially their next scalp.
Who will be the PGA Tour’s next star?
Sam Stone: Thriston Lawrence
South African Thriston Lawrence earned his PGA Tour card despite not winning a DP World Tour event in 2024. The 27-year-old’s consistency and red-hot putter could see him emerge as one to watch.
Lee Connor: Tom McKibbin
I’ll go for Tom McKibbin. He’s highly rated and snuck in at the end. He could thrive on a bigger stage around some bigger names too.
Jordan Harris: Rasmus Hojgaard
Luke Clanton appears to have the potential to emulate Nick Dunlap by winning as an amateur. But I’m going to go for Rasmus Hojgaard. Anyone who watched the DP World Tour this year saw that the Dane is a potential superstar.
Peter Lynch: Matt McCarty
Matt McCarty shone in the FedEx Cup Fall schedule, winning the Black Desert Championship, and I’m tipping him to impress in 2025.
How many events will Tiger Woods play in 2025?
Sam Stone: 10
I am slightly more positive about Tiger Woods’ chances in 2025 after watching the PNC Championship. Tiger is swinging the club freely, it’s now about regaining sharpness. I think he will play each major and hopefully five or six PGA Tour events as well. The Genesis feels like the obvious event for Woods to make his professional return.
Lee Connor: 3
I think Tiger plays the Masters, The Open, then one of the US or PGA. I think he’ll skip one and that will be all we see of him all year. Bold call as well…I think he retires this year from the PGA Tour.
Jordan Harris: 4
Unfortunately, it feels like it would be an achievement if he played the four majors and the Genesis Invitational. Perhaps he skips the US Open at the unforgiving Oakmont.
Peter Lynch: 2
Tiger’s injury struggles are likely to get the better of him once more in 2025, but I still think he’ll make an appearance for his beloved fans at two of the four majors, perhaps the US Open and The Open Championship.
Will Rory McIlroy end decade-long major drought?
Sam Stone: Yes
I’ve backed him to win the PGA Championship, but I think McIlroy also stands a chance at all the major championships in 2025. He’s due a good performance at Augusta, the brutish Oakmont could suit McIlroy at the US Open and there will be few players who know Royal Portrush better than the Northern Irishman.
Lee Connor: Yes
Yes, he will win The Open but come up short at Augusta.
Jordan Harris: Yes
Another head vs heart situation. I have McIlroy down for the PGA Championship, and it would be no surprise to see him contend at the Masters. The good news is that actually you could see him competing at all four. So yes, major number five is on its way.
Peter Lynch: Yes
Yes! It’s now over a decade since his last major win, but I think that will finally be brought to an emotional end this year with a very fitting success at Royal Portrush.
Ryder Cup 2025 winner
Sam Stone: Europe
Luke Donald’s captaincy will prove vital and I think he could give the Europeans the edge as they seek their first Ryder Cup win on US soil since the 2012 Miracle at Medinah.
Lee Connor: Team USA
Team USA will just edge it, they have the better players if they perform.
Jordan Harris: Team USA
My heart says Europe, but Team USA should and will be too strong. Donald would have a claim to be the greatest European captain of all time with a win.
Peter Lynch: USA
Away wins just really are very hard to come by at the Ryder Cup, and I think that trend will continue at Bethpage Black with a USA triumph. The hosts should be spurred on by captain Keegan Bradley, but also by the fact their wallets will get a little bigger.
Nelly Korda tournament wins in 2025
Sam Stone: 3
I can’t see Nelly Korda repeating her 2024 season. With competition growing on the LPGA Tour, I think three wins will mark an excellent season for the world number one.
Lee Connor: 4
Hard to say but I’ll go for around 4. She had an amazing 2024 which will be hard to replicate but I’d also not be surprised if she repeated it or did even better.
Jordan Harris: 2
Not as many as seven! Korda was unbelievable most of the time, but could also go off the boil in a big way. Jeeno Thitikul looks like a special talent and should win at least one major in 2025. But the depth in the women’s game right now is so impressive. Two wins for the world number one.
Peter Lynch: 3
Seven was silly last time out, and I think that number will face a decline in 2025 given the emerging LPGA Tour talent, but a very impressive three wins could still be on the cards.
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