As the new year begins, I want to toast all of you – the dreamers, the early risers at the range, and the weekend warriors. Each of you contributes to keeping this beautiful game healthy and strong. As a PGA Professional, custodian of the game, I thank you.
I would also like to thank the team at Athlon Sports for welcoming me as their Senior Golf Editor in 2025. It has been a privilege to tell stories with you about this game that means so much to me and I look forward to what awaits me in 2026.
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The year 2025 has given us many strong and memorable moments. Scottie Scheffler continued to raise the bar, winning six times, including the PGA Championship and The Open at Royal Portrush. But for all that Scheffler accomplished, what stood out to me was not the trophies. It’s something he’s said in the past, but reiterated this year, and it still resonates: “My identity is not a golf score.”
In a world where we are always asked to prove ourselves, Scheffler showed us that golf is something we play, not who we are. This is a lesson to remember in 2026.
2025 saw Rory McIlroy finally complete the career Grand Slam with his victory at The Masters. After years of close quarters and mounting pressure, he showed that tenacity and conviction pay off.
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If you’re looking for something in golf or in life, remember from Rory’s road that timing isn’t what matters. Progress will come when it is needed.
Women’s golf has soared in 2025, with Jeeno Thitikul leading the way by winning three times and taking back-to-back CME Group Tour championships. There have been 29 different winners on the LPGA Tour. It’s not just depth: it shows that opportunity and talent collide like never before. Women’s football doesn’t just demand attention now. He demands it and he deserves it.
We’ve seen rookies like Aldrich Potgieter, a 20-year-old former wrestler, become the ninth youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1983. Marco Penge has won three times on the DP World Tour. Players from all over the world have shown that this game is open to anyone who wants to play it.
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We’re now looking ahead to 2026. I’m really excited.
The PGA Tour strengthens its structure by limiting full status to the top 100 players. Some may say it’s a difficult change, but I think it’s fair. Golf has always rewarded merit, and these changes make that even clearer today. To stay at the top, you have to win it every week.
This year’s majors will be held at Aronimink, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale. The Presidents Cup will take place in Medinah and the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. We’ll see Thitikul and Korda battle for the top spot on the LPGA Tour, and we’ll find out if Scheffler can continue her historic run or if a new challenger will emerge.
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What do I hope for you in 2026? Play more golf. Do more laps. Bring someone new into the game. Remember that every shot, good or bad, is just one shot, and there is always another chance to come.
Golf teaches us patience, humility and resilience. He rewards those who prepare and challenges those who do not. It gives us leisurely mornings on empty fairways and friendships made over eighteen holes. It connects us to the past while still moving us forward.
So let’s toast to 2026. To the game that tests us, humbles us, and always brings us back. To the pros who inspire us and the friends who make us laugh. Early tee times, late putts and everything in between.
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Happy New Year, golfers. I hope your drives are long, your putts are true, and your enthusiasm for the game grows with each round.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on January 1, 2026, where he first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as Favorite source by clicking here.
