PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 16, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Professional golf delivered no shortage of drama on the PGA Tour and beyond in 2025.
We witnessed breakthrough moments as Cameron Young finally claimed his long-awaited first victory, while Justin Rose turned back the clock with a vintage performance to capture a FedExCup Playoff event. Meanwhile, big-name stars like Viktor Hovland and Justin Thomas both of whom had faced recent struggles the past few years found their way back into the winner’s circle, signaling a resurgence among golf’s elite.
However, the spotlight ultimately belonged to two men, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy. They set the standard for excellence, trading highlights and headlines in a season that felt like a two-man duel at the top of their games. In December player of the year will be voted on by the players and it certainly will be a two horse race.
Lets take a closer look at their 2025 resumes:
Rory McIroy
– Won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am (signature event)
– Won the Players Championship in an extra day playoff at TPC Sawgrass (signature event)
– Won the Masters to complete the Career Grand Slam
– Wins the Amgen Irish Open
– Wins an away Ryder cup at Bethpage Black and earns 3.5 points
2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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In 2025, Rory McIlroy achieved one of golf’s rarest and most coveted milestones, the Career Grand Slam. After years of near-misses and heartbreak at Augusta, McIlroy finally slipped on the green jacket that had long eluded him, joining an exclusive fraternity that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. It was not only the defining moment of his career, but one of the defining moments of all of sports in recent memory.
Beyond his Masters triumph, McIlroy added victories at two of golf’s most iconic venues in TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Beach cementing a season that was as complete as it was historic. He capped off the year with a dramatic win at the Irish Open, and perhaps his most impressive feat came on foreign soil, helping lead Team Europe to a rare away Ryder Cup victory in the hostile atmosphere of New York.
Rory has had some impressive seasons to date, but 2025 just may be his best one yet.
Scottie Scheffler
– Wins Hero World Challenge (December of 2024)
– Wins the CJ Cup Byron Nelson
– Wins the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and his 3rd major
– Wins the Memorial Tournament (signature event)
– Wins the Open Championship at Royal Portrush for his 4th major
– Wins the BMW Championship at Caves Valley (playoff event)
– Wins the Procore Championship
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 20: Scottie Scheffler of the United States poses with the Claret Jug on the 18th green after winning The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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Scottie Scheffler entered 2025 playing some of the most dominant golf the modern game has ever seen. Outside of a minor setback on Christmas Day when he suffered a puncture wound to his right palm from a broken glass, Scheffler picked up right where he left off. He quickly silenced any lingering questions about whether his major success could extend beyond Augusta, capturing the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow to claim his third major title. But Scheffler wasn’t finished yet. He proved his brilliance travels anywhere, conquering Royal Portrush to win the Open Championship, his first major victory on foreign soil and his 4th overall. It was a statement that his game transcends courses, continents, and conditions, the mark of a generational player in full command of his craft.
Scheffler’s dominance extended far beyond the majors. He collected a host of other titles throughout the season and finished inside the top 10 in 17 of his 20 starts — a staggering level of consistency that set him apart from his peers. Week after week, Scheffler seemed immune to slumps, his precision and composure defining yet another remarkable campaign that adds to his legacy. As the 2025 season wraps, he stands as the overwhelming favorite for PGA Tour Player of the Year, and it’s easy to see why.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffgoudy/2025/10/19/2025-the-year-of-rory-and-scottie/
