25 burning questions for the 2025 golf season

We’ve obtained questions. 2025 could have solutions. Right here we go: 25 questions for the 2025 12 months in golf. And only for enjoyable let’s do it with out utilizing the phrase “merger” at any level…

INJURY DIVISION

1. Can prepping Christmas Dinner do what an overzealous police officer and each golfer on the earth couldn’t?

In different phrases: Is this what stops Scottie Scheffler? After a 12 months the place Scheffler turned a father, obtained arrested and received 9 occasions, together with the Gamers, the Masters, the FedEx Cup and Olympic Gold, is a kitchen accident sufficient to derail this runaway prepare? In all probability not. However a golfer’s fingers are his livelihood, and the truth that Scheffler’s beginning his 2025 with glass-shard elimination surgical procedure is … not nice.

2. Which path is Viktor Hovland headed?

And I don’t simply imply which path his toe is pointing — although that’s a superb place to start out. For a second consecutive season, Hovland arrives on the first event of the 12 months having simply cut up with teacher Joe Mayo. Final 12 months was principally disappointing; he regressed in his quick recreation, managed simply two top-10s and took 4 months this offseason to get proper and get wholesome. That offseason concluded with a damaged toe and a brand new teaching plan. Is that this a nasty omen or simply what Hovland wants?

3. Did Jordan Spieth simply repair … all the things?

Generally a wrist surgical procedure is greater than a wrist surgical procedure. Spieth Nation hopes that’s the case. We haven’t seen Spieth since he bowed out within the second spherical of the FedEx Cup Playoffs in August — however maybe that is intermission earlier than a large Spiethian second act.

4. What’s subsequent for Ludvig Aberg?

He missed time this fall after a process on his knee however appeared robust in his two begins on the RSM and Hero World Problem. The Swedish star is already No. 5 on the earth; what does the subsequent step appear like?

5. How a lot will Tiger Woods play?

We noticed Tiger Woods alongside his son Charlie on the PNC Championship, after all, however he urged warning. Will we see him on the Genesis? On the Masters? At each TGL match? How will he look after we do?

LEADERSHIP DIVISION

6. Who will the PGA Tour’s new CEO be?

Not simply in identify however in philosophy — who will Monahan and Co. rent to push the PGA Tour ahead? And what does [gestures at entire landscape] all of this imply for Monahan?

7. Who will the LPGA Tour’s new commissioner be?

Not simply in identify however in philosophy — how will Mollie Marcoux Samaan’s successor generate important buzz for the league because it enters its seventy fifth 12 months?

8. Who will LIV’s new commissioner be?

With Greg Norman on the best way out — or no less than into a unique function — can his successor take Norman’s ardour for the league and marry it with a extra conciliatory chapter for LIV’s future?

9. How will DP World Tour commissioner Man Kinnings steer the ship?

I believed it was attention-grabbing this fall when Kinnings mentioned, of the DPWT, “we actually are the world tour.” LIV has been in search of that place. The PGA Tour clearly has tournaments all over the world, too. Does Kinnings lean tougher into the strategic alliance with the Tour or decide to welcome LIV’s stars to bolster its greatest occasions?

10. What’s going to we see from the brand new head of the R&A?

That will be Mark Darbon, successor to Martin Slumbers. The R&A chief all the time appears like an vital compass for the sport; it’s price studying this Slumbers exit interview with John Huggan to get a way of the place and the place Darbon will sit with respect to the sport’s challenges.

MAJOR CHAMPS DIVISION

11. What’s going to the sequel to Lydia Ko’s fairy story appear like?

Ko’s gold medal-St. Andrews-Corridor-of-Fame combo made 2024 robust to beat. How ’bout 2025?

12. Can Xander Schauffele end off the profession grand slam?

Okay, possibly we’re getting forward of ourselves. Maybe successful the Masters and the U.S. Open this 12 months isn’t gonna occur. However what if it did?! We unpacked that on this week’s Daring Predictions episode of the Drop Zone, which yow will discover right here:

13. Simply how good can Nelly Korda get?

This 12 months she claimed a significant championship and 6 wins in a single seven-tournament stretch — and it nonetheless felt like a bizarre 12 months due to some high-profile missed cuts, a canine chew harm, you identify it. Korda could not win 5 in a row once more however someway nonetheless has room for enchancment in 2025.

14. Bryson?

Bryson DeChambeau’s ongoing off-course recognition is difficult established truths about what it means to be a professional athlete, stuff like: do you suppose extra individuals find out about DeChambeau’s home hole-in-one quest or his U.S. Open victory? However the truth that he may do each in 2024 is a testomony to his continued rise. I don’t even know what query to ask right here, so let’s simply see what DeChambeau does subsequent.

15. Simply how good will Royal Portrush be?

It’s the key championship I’m most excited for: I’m a sucker for Northern Eire, for Irish lore normally, for Shane Lowry’s return, 5 years later, for Rory McIlroy to re-enter the emotional strain cooker. Can’t wait.

RYDER CUP DIVISION

16. Will Keegan Bradley make his personal Ryder Cup group?

I hope so. For Keegan and for the chaos of all of it.

17. What number of LIV execs will make the Ryder Cup group?

There was just one LIV golfer on the 2023 Ryder Cup — American Brooks Koepka. There will likely be extra this time. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have since left for LIV on the European aspect and others, particularly Bryson DeChambeau (and Sergio Garcia?!) will likely be beneath severe consideration.

18. Will American pay develop into a rallying cry?

The American aspect’s elevated stipend has been an limitless supply of debate; will the European group and their touring troupe of followers use that to their benefit?

19. How will the followers be, anyway?

A lot was manufactured from the $750 Bethpage ticket worth and the way it’ll worth out common followers. However a lot has additionally been manufactured from the unruly ambiance we’re sure to search out on Lengthy Island. Can each be true? Maybe followers will likely be that rather more unruly as a result of they’ve paid a lot to be there? A secure prediction: pleasant insanity, with no less than one or two incidents that cross the road.

20. Can the Europeans steal one other one?

All sides has been holding serve successfully; the Individuals have now received twice in a row at house whereas the Europeans haven’t misplaced at house since [checks notes] 1993. Can Luke Donald lead his squad into hostile territory and emerge with a win?

MISCELLANEOUS DIVISION

21. How a lot will we see Lexi Thompson?

Her retirement was one of many greatest tales of 2024. However she additionally shied away from the phrase “retirement” at occasions — and completed the 12 months taking part in some fairly good golf. The place will we see Lexi subsequent? What’s going to she be as much as after we do?

22. What’s the story with with LIV’s Fox Sports activities deal?

That’s, the place, when and the way will we watch LIV? Getting a big-time TV deal is big for the league’s potential publicity and could possibly be an antidote to its underwhelming rankings. However I’m curious how the media rights had been valued and the way the product will likely be televised — how a lot FS1 we’re getting vs. Fox, whether or not worldwide occasions will likely be reside vs. tape-delayed, and so forth. LIV’s rankings stay an vital subplot as varied energy brokers determine golf’s future.

23. Will the TGL work?

Shade me intrigued. I believe this could possibly be sneaky enjoyable and legitimately totally different; it’ll be quick, the tech appears fairly cool and there’s loads of star energy concerned — however there’s additionally a world the place it’s one thing of a catastrophe. A immediately associated query: Will the gamers purchase all the best way in?

24. Can Rory…y’know…

…win a significant? McIlroy could have 4 extra probabilities to finish his decade-long drought. Whereas it’s robust to think about him getting nearer than he obtained at Pinehurst this 12 months, it’s additionally robust to think about simply how good it will really feel if he obtained throughout the road.

25. Can golf proceed to develop?

I don’t imply that within the eye-rolling grow-the-game drivel you hear too usually from too many individuals. However extra individuals have been taking part in golf. Extra individuals suppose and discuss positively concerning the recreation. There are extra choices and extra other ways to take part than ever. Have we peaked as a sport — or is that this only the start?

Bonus query: Who would be the subsequent visitor on Warming Up?

Shameless plug time; I would like you to look at the beneath interview with Xander Schauffele, if you happen to’re into that kind of factor. After which I would like you to stay round for the subsequent one coming in January. Admire you all.