Sports are about glory, winning and trophies. It’s about documenting, celebrating and celebrating. But behind every winner there are many losers.
For them, there is disappointment and despair. There are unwanted notes, criticisms and cat-calls.
Who are golf’s biggest losers in 2025? Let’s take a look.
1. PGA of America
Naming Keegan Bradley Ryder Cup captain always seemed like a foolish move, and nothing that happened in 2025 or the tournament itself changed anyone’s mind about the tragicomic decision announced in July 2024.
Remember, Bradley was controversially passed over for the 2023 game by captain Zach Johnson, with the Netflix series “All Out” capturing him receiving the news. Did they want to make things better when the PGA of America gave him the captaincy, but the move haunted them.
By the time Bradley won the Travelers Championship in June, he had played well enough that he had to decide whether to serve as tournament captain. Rory McIlroy has revealed he was trialled for the role, but he immediately wrote it off. Bradley snapped that Northern Ireland didn’t know if that was possible. For a captain, this is not a good look, nor is it a good mental state, and it is unnecessary.
In the tournament itself, Bradley struggled during the first two days, but their incompetence was underscored by the PGA of America hiring a comedian who joined the American crowd to chant her monotone: “Fuck you Rory!”
Oh, and then PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague had to apologize to McIlroy via email, which included insults hurled at him by fans and a beer thrown at his wife.
all in all? Easily the biggest flop of the year.
2. Liv Golf
You know you’ve failed when you confirm your critics’ suspicions while simultaneously disappointing your fans – which is what LIV Golf did when they announced that the 2026 schedule will include 72 holes of competition instead of 54 holes.
Of course, shortening the length is one of the Rebel Tour’s signature moves, so a change of heart would have to be a concession. So, inevitably, the smugglers’ critics booed. Others just shrugged (which was probably more like a snub).
But when LIV fans gasp in anger or feel betrayed, that’s when it really fails.
3. Joaquin Niemann
Make absolutely no mistake: the Chilean is one of the best golfers in the world, and he has proven it time and time again in 2025, especially with five wins at LIV.
But he’s still been a puzzling failure in the major leagues. He competed in 26 of those events and only finished in the top 20. That was this year’s PGA Championship, and a lot of it was a final-round 68.
He then missed the cut at the U.S. Open and Open Championship, reestablishing his elite-level woes.
4. Wyndham Clark
The Colorado golfer won the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, but this year he missed the cut at Oakmont and then soiled his locker.
Broken furniture appeared on social media and his reputation was shattered. He was banned from Oakmont and then offered a groveling apology.
He did finish fourth in the Open, his only top-30 finish in a major besides a win, so maybe letting off steam helped him out.
Still, it looks really, really bad.
5. Max Homa
Few golfers are more popular than the Californian, who has won six times on the PGA Tour – the last in 2023.
But something strange happened in his career. While winning all those titles, he struggled in the majors. Then, in early 2024, he posted back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Masters and PGA Championship.
But in the next 36 starts, he had just two top-10 finishes, and by the start of 2025, his performance had all but plummeted. A return to top golf form is one of the biggest hopes for 2026 for most golf fans.
6. Dustin Johnson
DJ insisted in late summer that he found something in the game that would improve his golf, and he did finish with a season-best third place finish at LIV Indianapolis.
But he suffered a major failure as a major in 2025 for the second year in a row. He missed the cut in the first three majors of the year but is on track to do so again after opening with a 73 at the Open. He ended up tied for 23rd, but his first-round games at the 2024 and 2025 majors were almost terrible.
What they wrote was: 78-73-74-74-74-78-75-73. It’s so bad it makes me cry.
7. Patrick Cantlay
In eight seasons from 2017 to 2024, the 33-year-old finished in the top three 26 times, and he had a particularly strong season in 2022, with seven top-three finishes.
But he’s only managed a top-three finish this season, which, while lucrative at the Tour Championship, is a very poor return for a golfer like him. He hasn’t won since 2022 either.
8. Ricky Fowler
The 36-year-old impressed with sixth- and seventh-place finishes at the FedExCup Playoffs at the St. Jude Championship and the BMW Championship, respectively, but many observers weren’t interested in him simply playing in those tournaments.
Why is this happening? He had only one top-10 finish the entire year before that, and he was invited to play in numerous tournaments, which was considered an unfair advantage over other golfers who had to compete. Fowler wants to avoid such nitpicks in 2026 and will need to play better to do that.
9. Yannick Paul
When the German won his first DP World Tour title at the end of 2022 and then finished in the top three three times in 2023, he was shortlisted for the European Ryder Cup team.
Things are different in 2025. Very different. In 27 starts, he only finished in the top 30. He did not retain his qualification and had to return to Q School, ultimately failing to advance.
Read more: The breakout stars of the 2025 season
