2025 was a historic year for golf on the course, but equally transformative developments occurred off it. A wave of fresh leadership across the sport’s governing bodies is laying the groundwork for rapid evolution – and potentially revolution – in professional golf.

From Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Grand Slam-clinching Masters victory to Scottie Scheffler’s PGA Tour dominance and Europe’s sensational Ryder Cup triumph, the elite players showcased why golf captivates fans. Now, it is the task of the new administrators to build on the sport’s resurgence in popularity.

Fresh Faces at the Top

The game has seen unprecedented turnover at its governing and tour bodies. Key appointments include:

• Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO, bringing lessons from the NFL on competitive parity, simplicity, and scarcity.
• Mark Darbon, R&A chief, reshaping The Open with innovative qualifying formats.
• Guy Kinnings, DP World Tour CEO, navigating sponsorship and player conflicts.
• Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO, steering the Saudi-backed breakaway tour.

These leaders are largely outsiders from other sports, bringing fresh perspectives to golf’s traditional structures. Rolapp, for example, emphasizes that golf has competitive parity, but struggles with complexity and ubiquity in its calendar. He is exploring a February–August PGA Tour season to avoid clashes with the NFL, improving viewership and media focus.

Balancing Rival Tours

The rise of LIV Golf has complicated the global schedule. O’Neil has already increased LIV shotgun start tournaments from 54 to 72 holes, a change designed to align more closely with major championship standards and potentially earn official world ranking points.

Meanwhile, DP World Tour and LIV players remain in dispute over fines and bans for competing across rival tours. Stars like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are at the centre of negotiations, with resolutions expected by April 2026.

The Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), led by Trevor Immelman, is showing more flexibility, but ensuring fair promotion and relegation between tours remains critical to preserving credibility and competitiveness.

Modernizing Iconic Events

At the R&A, Darbon has introduced last-chance qualifying at The Open, allowing additional players a route into championship week. This innovation is part of a wider effort to modernize traditions while maintaining the prestige of golf’s oldest major.

The 2028 Open is already under planning, with dates shifted to avoid the LA Olympics. Potential venues include Muirfield, Carnoustie, Turnberry, and Royal Lytham & St Annes, each presenting unique logistical and political considerations.

The Road Ahead

With these leaders in place, 2026 is shaping up as a transitional year for professional golf. By 2027, fans could see a more streamlined, globally coordinated schedule, better integration of rival tours, and fresh approaches to tournament formats.

Innovation, evolution, and revolution are not just buzzwords – they define the future trajectory of the sport, as golf embraces new leadership, new ideas, and a new era of global appeal.