Holiday must-reads: 20 of our favorite stories from 2025

We forgive you, dear reader. It’s impossible to consume everything these days. Besides reading your favorite print and virtual publications, there’s also all that scrolling - oh, so much scrolling - that needs to be done on your go-to YouTube and Instagram and TikTok channels.

So it’s highly likely you missed something on our site this year. No sweat. We’re here to help. Below, we compiled some of our writers’ favorite work from 2025. You’ll find an in-depth profile on a broadcasting legend, a look inside a golf program at a Washington prison, a piece on the extraordinary character of a college golfer, the good (and bad) of an Augusta National tee time, and so much more.

Thanks for reading in 2025. See you next year!

20 of our favorite stories from 2025

The only Masters story Jim Nantz won’t tell, by James Colgan

Forty years after Jim Nantz’s first Masters, the voice of American sports grapples with the opportunity - and inevitability - of time.

What’s Scottie Scheffler really like? We asked his inner circle, by Dylan Dethier

“He’s 99 percent creative savant”: Scottie Scheffler’s coach, caddie, chaplain and more tell the story of his greatness.

Why 1 unseen part of Rory McIlroy’s Masters celebration spoke to me, by Josh Schrock

Rory McIlroy’s post-Masters celebration had everything, but one unseen moment told a story that resonated with many.

What I learned playing 36 U.S. Open holes in 36 hours - from Erin Hills to Oakmont, by Sean Zak

I played this year’s U.S Open courses - Erin Hills and Oakmont - in a span of 36 hours, and learned something special along the way.

‘I never thought I’d be golfing, let alone in prison': Here, golf offers a second chance, by Nick Piastowski

At Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Washington, golf is offering a second chance. "I never thought I'd be golfing, let alone in prison."

‘I know I'm crazy': The world's wildest golf museum defies belief, by Josh Sens

Over nearly three decades, Bob Zokoe has compiled and catalogued what he believes is the world’s largest collection of golf memorabilia.

A baffling pin, a DQ and an apology. The ousted golfer blames only 1 person, by Alan Bastable

At a college national championship earlier this month, an inexplicable hole location led to carnage, a disqualification and ownership.

This Ryder Cup oozes New York spirit. So does watering hole down the street, by Michael Bamberger

At Susan's, a shot-and-a-beer pub near Bethpage State Park, patrons will keep an eye on the Ryder Cup this week - and also many other things.

At U.S. Women's Open, an existential question. And 1 inspiring answer, by Nick Piastowski

At the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills, there's an existential question. And one inspiring answer, courtesy of Scottish pro Gemma Dryburgh.

He heckled Rory McIlroy. Now this college star is facing consequences, by Alan Bastable

When a fan chirped Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship this week, McIlroy took action. Here’s what happened next.

The worst part about an Augusta National tee time, by James Colgan

I played Augusta National on the Monday after the Masters. Here is what I learned about golf, and about myself.

Rachel Heck didn’t need pro golf. She wanted something more, by Josh Berhow

Three-time NCAA champion Rachel Heck was destined for stardom. But a year ago she realized pro golf is not the life she wanted.

This would-be golf course sits on dream linksland. Inside the fight to build it, by Josh Sens

A decade after Coul Links was proposed, the fight over the site near Royal Dornoch is set to be decided by the Scottish government.

For Rory McIlroy’s resilient right-hand man, Masters win meant something extra, by Dylan Dethier

Rory McIlroy’s Masters win meant a lot of things to a lot of people - but it meant something extra to his caddie Harry Diamond.

John Harris’ final round told the story of his epic golfing life, by Josh Berhow

John Harris, a one-of-a-kind athlete and the last mid-amateur to win the U.S. Amateur Championship, died on Wednesday at age 73.

Want an inside look at the growth of women’s golf? Spend a day at the Desert Classic, by Jessica Marksbury

Women make up nearly a third of the recreational golfers in America, and at the Desert Classic, hundreds of them showed up to play - and party.

The golf ball brand no one saw coming back just made a statement, by Jack Hirsh

When Ben Griffin and his partner, Andrew Novak, won the Zurich Classic last week, they helped Maxfli return to the professional golf spotlight.

How did Lydia Ko summit the mountain again? She explains everything, by Sean Zak

In just one year, Lydia Ko went from crying in hotel rooms to crying on the Olympics podium. But how? She explains it all.

He played his first-ever round of golf - at Augusta National, by Jack Hirsh

On Monday, Augusta National invited 28 members of the media to play the course. For one of them, it was a particularly surreal round.

Tommy Fleetwood’s Tour Championship win told us something his losses couldn’t, by Josh Schrock

Tommy Fleetwood’s near misses revealed a lot about him. His Tour Championship win on Sunday left us with a bigger message.

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MAIN PHOTO CREDITS: Top row, from left: Getty Images/illustration Emma Devine; Stephen Denton; Connor Federico. Middle row, from left: Nick Piastowski; Darren Riehl; Getty Images. Bottom row, from left: Darren Riehl; Getty Images; Chris McEniry.

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