By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Liv Golf.
The past year delivered a rich mix of theatre and transformation in global golf. From historic milestones to controversy and innovation, 2025 offered moments that will shape the sport’s direction well into the next decade. As the game looks towards 2026, reflection is inevitable, particularly on the evolving influence of LIV Golf and what it continues to mean for elite competition.
Among the standout talking points were the rise of zero torque putters and the unexpected cultural splash made by Happy Gilmore 2. Yet few storylines carried as much consequence as the performances of LIV Golf’s leading figures and the persistent questions that followed them.
LIV Golf’s defining year and the Niemann debate
For LIV Golf, 2025 was a season of consolidation and quiet recalibration. Structural changes were made behind the scenes, but on the fairways and greens one player repeatedly stole the spotlight. Joaquin Niemann delivered a dominant campaign, winning five times across the circuit and establishing himself as the league’s most prolific performer.
Victories in Adelaide, Singapore, the United Kingdom and beyond underlined the Chilean’s quality and consistency. Fellow LIV star Jon Rahm went so far as to suggest Niemann was among the world’s elite, arguing that his talent was being undervalued due to the fragmented nature of men’s professional golf.
Niemann’s confidence has never been in doubt. He has spoken openly about his belief that a major championship win is inevitable. However, 2025 did little to silence sceptics. A tied 29th at the Masters, a tied eighth at the PGA Championship and missed cuts at the US Open and Open Championship ensured the familiar critique remained. Success on the LIV circuit has yet to translate into sustained contention on golf’s biggest stages.
That frustration culminated in significant changes late in the season, with Niemann parting ways with both his coach and caddie. It was a reminder that even amid regular victories, the absence of major success continues to weigh heavily.
Rahm’s consistency and unfinished business
While Niemann captured headlines with trophies, Jon Rahm’s year told a different story. The Spaniard did not record a single LIV tournament win in 2025, yet his remarkable consistency carried him to the individual season title. Finishing outside the top ten just once all year, Rahm described the achievement as satisfying but tinged with disappointment.
Rahm remains acutely aware that his legacy will be judged by major championships, not league standings. His return to contention at the PGA Championship offered a glimpse of the player who once dominated the sport’s biggest events. Although a costly finish ended his challenge, the hunger was unmistakable.
By his own admission, it was the most enjoyable and energising week he had experienced in some time. Whether that momentum carries into 2026 remains one of the most compelling questions in men’s golf.
South Africa enters the LIV conversation
For South African fans, the global LIV narrative is set to feel far closer to home. Organisers have confirmed that South Africa will host a LIV Golf event next year, marking a significant moment for the local game. The arrival of the series on home soil promises not only elite competition but also renewed visibility for golf in the region.
With world class players expected to compete and international attention guaranteed, the event could provide a meaningful boost for development, tourism and fan engagement. It also places South Africa firmly within the evolving landscape of professional golf, at a time when the sport continues to redefine itself.
Looking ahead
As 2026 approaches, LIV Golf’s biggest names face familiar but intensifying scrutiny. For Niemann and Rahm, the question is no longer about winning on their current stage, but whether they can convert that form into major championship glory. Until then, the debate around LIV’s competitive value will persist, even as its global footprint expands, now reaching South African fairways.