Top 10 moments in golf from 2024

In 2024, although the prize funds have continued to increase and there were some truly dominating performances in the women's professional game, it felt like more of a plateau rather than a continued drive forward overall. Ending the year with the news that Mollie Marcoux Samaan will be stepping down in early 2025 from the LPGA Tour might be the catalyst to kick-start a supercharged 2025.

For the men, we've gone through another year of PGA Tour versus LIV Golf, with the winner of it all coming from a surprise quarter. Bryson DeChambeau has risen up the fan scale with his YouTube and social media channels, culminating in him attempting to hit a hole-in-one over his house. At times men's professional golf has felt more like a soap opera than a sport, often overshadowing the golf.

We've got a real mix of top moments this year from the sublime to the ridiculous. So, in no particular order, let's look at my top 10 moments in professional golf in 2024.

Lydia Ko qualifies for the LPGA Hall of Fame

Lydia Ko started the year how she finished 2023, with a win at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in January. This took her to 26 points, within one of the total she needed to be inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The New Zealander nearly got the elusive point the following week but lost out in a play-off to Nelly Korda who was at the start of her win streak.

Whilst hopes remained high amongst fans, we would have to wait until Paris 2024 to see Ko put on a fantastic display of golf. Not only winning a gold medal, to add to her silver and bronze from previous Olympics but also the point needed for Hall of Fame status.

The 27-year-old New Zealand native achieved this milestone through a stellar career that includes LPGA Hall of Fame points earned for 20 LPGA Tour victories, highlighted by two Major championship titles, two Rolex LPGA Player of the Year awards, twice earning the Glenna Collett Vare Trophy for the season’s lowest scoring average and now the Olympic gold medal. Ko becomes the 35th individual enshrined in the LPGA Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of the most accomplished and influential athletes in the history of women’s golf.

Ko also wasn't finished there, two weeks later she won her third Major title at the AIG Women's Open and a further LPGA title at the Kroger Queen City Championship in September. Three wins (one Major), one gold medal and a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame - a pretty solid season by all accounts!

Team USA get their revenge at the Solheim Cup

With the draw at Finca Cortesin still fresh in their memories, team USA had one theme running through their Solheim Cup week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club - 'unfinished business'.

And that's how it felt the whole week. Whilst music blared from the first tee, the American team took hold from the start and headed into the Sunday singles with a 10-6 lead, needing only 4.5 points from 12.

Luckily for fans it really did come down to the last hour of play after Europe rallied, coming down to the final three matches on the course.

The World number two taking on the 63rd ranked woman would potentially look one-sided, but this is matchplay and the Solheim Cup. Although Albane Valenzuela had not had much airtime this during the week, only competing in the Friday foursomes, her love, drive and competitiveness for the Solheim Cup meant that it wasn't likely to be an easy match for Lilia Vu.

Vu did control the front nine at one point but by the eighth Albane had levelled the match. The Swiss player fought hard and momentum shifted in her favour as Vu wasn't able to get a putt to drop. Two-up with two to play, it looked like another point would go to Europe.

Maybe it was her World ranking or maybe just experience (or a bit of both) but Vu dug deep to get the match down 18. Whilst Valenzuela couldn't get her approach shot close, Vu executed a perfect shot to just over a foot to make a birdie, winning the hole and halving the match - getting the vital half point that USA needed to win the Solheim Cup. 14.5 - 11.5.

We now have to wait until September 2026 when the Solheim Cup will be played in Holland for the first time at Bernardus. On a slight aside, Women & Golf are hosting a trip to Bernardus in 2025 - find out more.

Big names retire from LPGA

It was a year of departures from the LPGA. The biggest name being Lexi Thompson, who announced during the Women's U.S. Open in May that she would be taking a step away from a full time schedule in 2025.

"While it is never easy to say goodbye, it is indeed time. At the end of 2024, I will be stepping away from a full professional golf schedule. I'm excited to enjoy the remainder of the year as there are still goals I want to accomplish. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life. Time with family, friends, and my trusted companion Leo. I will always look for ways to contribute to the sport and inspire the next generation of golfers. And of course, I look forward to a little time for myself."

In September, after being part of the successful USA Solheim Cup team, Ally Ewing, the three-time LPGA Tour winner revealed that she would be retiring at the end of the season. The Mississippi native, known for her steady play and calm demeanour, closed out a nine-year career on her own terms.

Ewing made the announcement in a touching Instagram video that reflected her gratitude for the journey and her pride in representing her home state of Mississippi on one of the biggest stages in women’s golf. “There haven’t been many Mississippi golfers to advance to the LPGA,” she shared, underscoring her desire to inspire the next generation of girls from her home state. “That’s a huge part of why I wanted to announce the way I did.”

In November, Angela Stanford, the six-time Solheim Cupper, with seven LPGA titles, including a Major at the Amundi Evian Championship in 2018 at the age of 40, hung up her LPGA clubs.

When asked about her legacy, Stanford spoke with humility, expressing hope that she contributed to the Tour’s growth. “I hope I was another stepping stone. I hope I helped the Tour go to another level,” she reflected. “Hopefully I get to talk about [these players] in the future… I hope my legacy would be that I was one of the good ones. I was one that loved the Tour and made it better.”

With much of the focus on Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing on Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship as they brought their LPGA Tour full time careers to a close, it came as a surprise that they weren't the only ones saying goodbye. Marina Alex, had only told those close to her of her intentions and it was only when an announcement was made during the TV coverage that the wider LPGA golf community and fans found out. On retiring she said; "This job is hard emotionally, and I’m finally ready to hang that up and not live and die by the golf course."

On the LET both Felicity Johnson and Amy Boulden announced their retirement from professional golf.

Scottie Scheffler's arrest

The second day of the PGA Championship started with an announcement that round two of the tournament would be delayed due to an accident near the course. Very sadly that accident proved to be fatal with an update coming from the PGA of America later in the morning:

"This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones.”

Just over an hour and a half after the accident, Scottie Scheffler was being led away in handcuffs after a misunderstanding with traffic officers near Valhalla.

By 8:30 local time, the World Number one had been charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, criminal mischief in the third degree, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic. The charges include two misdemeanours, one violation and one felony (second-degree assault of a police officer).

It was then a race against time to see whether he would make his delayed tee time of 10:13am. Arriving at Valhalla at just after 9:15am, a statement was then released via Scheffler's Instagram at 9:50am.

Whilst distasteful memes flooded social media (a man had died after all), Scheffler managed to make his tee time and shoot five-under-par. It will definitely go down as one of the most unbelievable days in professional golf.

Redemption for Dimmock

After over five years without a win and eight months after hand surgery, Annabel Dimmock claimed the KPMG Women's Irish Open in a play-off. The win came the same week that a short documentary was launched tracking her road back to recovery. A perfectly timed win.

"I am a bit shell-shocked at the minute. I’m standing here and I think I’m in a dream honestly. I’m just shell-shocked and over the moon right now.

“This is pretty cool to do it in Ireland. It feels really good to do it here. The fans out there and the people watching were amazing to me this week and they really cheered me on. It’s kind of what I needed because I haven’t had an easy couple of weeks.

“I have felt like I have been playing well for a while. The documentary came out a couple of days ago when I shot seven-under, and it was a bit sad and I don’t want it to be a sad story. I have worked really hard to get myself back and I am proud of myself.

“It’s not just me, there’s a lot of people on my team, there’s Alfie and all my friends at home and family. There’s a lot that goes back into getting me fit, a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It’s not been easy for my family and everyone around me, but we’ve made it back, we’re good.”

The agony and ecstasy of golf

The agony and ecstasy of golf was fully on display during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open. We can all relate to the feelings no matter our level of play, when you hit the perfect shot but it gets an unlucky bounce, when you chip it in close for an easy par or watch a short putt lip out on the final hole as you were about to break 90.

If you watch DeChambeau to be entertained, the final round viewing was edge-of-your-seat stuff, as he spent nearly his entire round trying to get himself out of trouble. With only five fairways hit out of 14, he had to use his strength, skill and getting out of difficulty know-how to plot his way around the course. It can only be described as scrappy and sublime all at once!

Whilst DeChambeau struggled to control his adrenaline and new driver head, McIlroy seemed to be taking this final round in his stride. Calm, consistent and controlled. Standing on the 14th tee with the Irishman had a two shot lead over DeChambeau at eight-under-par.

DeChambeau had it all to do but there were still five holes for McIlroy to play. Things started to unravel on the Par 3 15th with him muscling a seven iron through the back of the green and having to settle for a bogey. All was not lost but then came two three foot putts on the final three holes which are likely to give McIlroy nightmares.

After holing some superb putts during his round, it was two short putts for par on 16 and 18 that ultimately made him go from leading, to a potential play-off to then finishing one shot short. A decade long search for a Major came within touching distance.

DeChambeau needed a par to win his second U.S. Open. It's safe to say that the American put his scrambling play to the ultimate test coming down the last.

Utter ecstasy for DeChambeau and absolute agony for McIlroy. As a fan, it was definitely a moment of mixed emotions.

Seventh heaven for Nelly Korda

It's pretty hard to pick just one moment from Nelly Korda's standout season. But in some ways, her seventh victory was probably the most significant.

After winning six times in eight starts by the 20th May, the question wasn't whether she was going to win again, it was all about how many. However, 11 days later Korda went from hero to zero in one round after a 10 on the par-3 12th during the first round of U.S. Women's Open.

A few months of struggles came but resurgence looked on the cards after finishing in a tie for second at the AIG Women's Open in August.

Fast forward to November and the Rolex Women’s World Number one collected her seventh title of 2024 in thrilling fashion at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, becoming the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011 to win seven times in a single season on the LPGA Tour and the first American to do so since Beth Daniel won seven LPGA Tour titles in 1990.

How did she view her season?

"No. Honestly, it's been a crazy year. I'm grateful for all of it. I am grateful for the highs; grateful for the lows; grateful to be doing what I love in front of people hopefully inspiring the next generation. It's really tough to win out here against such great players. The caliber of players is really, really high out here. I would say to me, it's really, really nice to know that all the hard work that I put in with my team is paying off."

And was there a particular favourite moment, whether on the course, off the course, The Met, becoming an aunt?

"All of it. Honestly becoming an aunt to little Greyson would be my favorite obviously off the golf course, but I think all the moments that I've gone through, the lows and highs, they've shaped me to who I am. They're constantly shaping me to who I am; constantly growing. I can't pick one certain point because I've just enjoyed kind of all of it."

McIlroy on/off divorce

Rory McIlroy never seems to do anything by half. Last year he became the spokesperson for the PGA Tour around all the LIV Golf debate, whilst juggling the day job and agenda of a near decade long wait for a Major.

This year, the speculation was swirling off the golf course. With a bizarre set of circumstances coming just ahead of the PGA Championship (this all ahead of Scheffler's arrest a few days later).

After claiming his 26th PGA Tour victory on the Sunday before the PGA Championship, Monday came the news that McIlroy had filed for divorce from his wife Erica. Sunday he was wearing his wedding ring and then filed for divorce the next day, the week of a Major championship!

"McIlroy's team released a statement to multiple media outlets, asserting McIlroy's desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible and that he will not be making any further comments on the matter at this time."

A month later, the divorce was called off.

"Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning," McIlroy said.

Jump to November where McIlroy held off Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard to win the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and clinch his sixth Race to Dubai title, with wife Erica and daughter Poppy by his side.

A happy ending to a turbulent few years for the Irish golfer.

New kids on the LET block

There are nine moments of 2024 just in this one post, so dominant were Chiara Tamburlini and Helen Briem's performances on the Ladies European Tour and LET Access Series.

We've been calling out for young new talent in Europe and there's no doubt that it's getting stronger each year. Linn Grant set the scene for that a couple of years ago.

This year the LET season belonged to Chiara Tamburlini who won three times, claimed the LET Order of Merit, Rookie of the Year and Player's Player awards. This was the first time that a Swiss players had won these titles. She also become the seventh player in LET history to win the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year in the same season following in the footsteps of Dame Laura Davies, Carlota Ciganda, Esther Henseleit, Jeeno Thitikul, Linn Grant and Trichat Cheenglab.

On the LET Access Series Germany's Helen Briem reigned supreme. She won three times as an amateur in June, turned professional and then won her fourth (and first as a pro) at the Rose Ladies Open hosted at Brocket Hall.

Not done there, Briem secured her first LET title too in September winning La Sella Open with a total of 18-under-par.

“Currently, I have no words! It’s just incredible, it’s my first event on the LET as a professional and my third overall. I’m just really proud,” said Briem, who had already secured her LET card for 2025 through LETAS.

One thing is for sure, these will be two players to watch next year, as the LET goes from strength to strength.

Viral Bryson challenge

It seems that LIV Golf life is suiting Bryson DeChambeau very well. With PGA Tour strict restrictions aside, this year has seen him dominate the golf YouTube and TikTok feeds with his videos, none more so than when he played with Donald Trump.

All whilst making himself more endearing to golf fans who were often turned off by his arrogance.

It all culminated in a challenge which he documented daily. Each day he would get one more ball which he could hit over his house in an attempt to achieve a hole-in-one. It captured the imaginations of many golf fans, who even made crazy attempts themselves.

It took 16 days to complete and as you can see, he was very pleased to get it done.

DeChambeau finished the year with a big brand announcement with Reebok. Brand Bryson is well and truly on the rise and will continue in an upward trajectory into 2025.

What will 2025 hold for the professional golf world? Only time will tell but after this roller coster of a year both on and off the golf course, one thing is for use, absolutely anything is possible!