As the new year begins, I want to toast all of you – the dreamers, the early risers at the range, and the weekend warriors. Each of you helps to keep this beautiful game healthy and strong. As a PGA Professional, caretaker of the game, I thank you.

I also want to thank the Athlon Sports team for welcoming me as their Senior Golf Writer in 2025. It’s been a privilege to tell stories with you about the game that means so much to me and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026.

2025 gave us many highlights and memorable moments. Scottie Scheffler continued to raise the bar, winning six times, including the PGA Championship and The Open at Royal Portrush. But with all Scheffler accomplished, what stood out to me wasn’t the trophies. It was something he had said in the past, but reiterated this year, which still resonates: “My identity isn’t a golf score.”

In a world where we’re always asked to prove ourselves, Scheffler showed us that golf is something we do, not who we are. That’s a lesson to remember in 2026.

2025 saw Rory McIlroy finally complete the career Grand Slam with his victory at The Masters. After years of close calls and growing pressure, he showed that tenacity and belief pay off.

If you’re chasing something in golf or in life, remember from Rory’s road that the timing isn’t what matters. The breakthroughs will come when they’re meant to.

Women’s golf soared in 2025, with Jeeno Thitikul leading the way by winning three times and taking back-to-back CME Group Tour Championships. There were 29 different winners on the LPGA Tour. That’s not just depth – it shows that opportunity and talent are coming together like never before. The women’s game isn’t just asking for attention now. It’s demanding it, and it deserves it.

We saw rookies like Aldrich Potgieter, a 20-year-old former wrestler, become the ninth-youngest PGA Tour winner since 1983. Marco Penge won three times on the DP World Tour. Players from all over the world showed that this game is open to anyone willing to put in the effort.

Now we look ahead to 2026. I’m truly excited.

The PGA Tour is tightening its structure by limiting full status to just the top 100 players. Some might say it’s a harsh change, but I think it’s fair. Golf has always rewarded merit, and these changes make that even clearer now. To stay at the top, you have to earn it every week.

This year’s majors will be at Aronimink, Shinnecock Hills, and Royal Birkdale. The Presidents Cup will be at Medinah, and the Solheim Cup will be in the Netherlands. We’ll see Thitikul and Korda compete for the top spot on the LPGA Tour, and we’ll find out if Scheffler can keep up his historic run or if a new challenger will emerge.

What do I hope for you in 2026? Play more golf. Walk more rounds. Bring someone new into the game. Remember, every shot – good or bad – is just one shot, and there’s always another chance ahead.

Golf teaches us patience, humility, and resilience. It rewards those who prepare and challenges those who don’t. It gives us still mornings on empty fairways and friendships built over eighteen holes. It links us to the past while always moving us forward.

So let’s toast to 2026. To the game that tests us, humbles us, and always brings us back. To the pros who inspire us and the friends who make us laugh. To early tee times, late putts, and everything in between.

Happy New Year, golfers. I hope your drives are long, your putts are true, and your enthusiasm for the game grows with every round.

Related: On Your Birthday, GOAT

Related: 2025: Top 5 Trends in Coaching the Game

Related: Christmas Eve Reflections from the Back of the Range

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.