10 wildest golf stories of 2024

The countdown to 2025 is on but, first, let’s take a moment to look back on the wildest golf stories of 2024.

It was another unforgettable 12 months in the pro game and there was no lack of heartbreaks, comebacks and… arrests.

Meanwhile, slow play got more than enough airtime, so we won’t keep you any longer. Without further ado, here they are.

• 14 of the best golf quotes from 2024

• 6 tour pros who could have made it in other sports

10. Keith Pelley resigns

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley was the second man to confirms his exit in January (more on that later). After eight-and-a-half years with the European Tour group, the Canadian packed his bags to join Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd in his native Toronto.

9. Rory’s rapid exit

There was no man more heartbroken in North Carolina on Sunday, June 16, than Rory McIlroy. He let the US Open title, and a first major in ten years, slip out of his hands before wheel-spinning his way out of Pinehurst resort. Six minutes after DeChambeau tapped home, his rival was nowhere to be seen.

8. A letter to the LPGA

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson almost qualified for the US Women’s Open in the summer and her situation sparked controversy all year. In October, almost 300 female golfers signed a letter calling for her withdrawal from LPGA qualifying. Just a few weeks ago, the tour announced changes to its gender rules.

7. Slumbers stands down

The year of resignations only took ten days to be in full flow, as the R&A announced that Martin Slumbers would step down as the chief executive after nine years. Slumbers, 63, signed off from his role in the Home of Golf after overseeing two Opens this year – and left having earned plenty of respect.

6. Greg Norman: The Masters fan

Norman’s appearance at the Masters was wild for many reasons. The Aussie turned up and walked the hallowed grounds of Augusta National as a patron, but even wilder was that – according to the man himself – hundreds of people, including security guys, stopped him to say how fantastic LIV is.

5. New captain

Keegan Bradley might have been near the bottom of the PGA of America’s list, but he got the call up. When Tiger Woods turned down the 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy, the governing body went left field and appointed the 39-year-old in an apparent changing of the guard. Will he play, that’s the question?

4. Tiger and Nike split

It really was a tumultuous January – even one of the most iconic partnerships in the world of sport parted ways. After teaming up for over 27 years, Woods donned the Nike swoosh for the final time at the PNC Championship and later launched his own major championship-inspired brand, Sun Day Red.

3. Anthony Kim returns

One of golf’s greatest enigmas, Anthony Kim, made a sensational return to the game after completely disappearing for 12 years. The former Ryder Cup star turned his back on the game after injury but chose LIV Golf as his way back in. Less sensational was his game, finishing 56th of 57 in LIV’s standings.

2. Ryder Cup payday

The idea of players being paid to play in the Ryder Cup isn’t too far-fetched but, incredibly, it’s now a reality. As confirmed by the PGA of America, the 12 US players will receive a $200,000 stipend, as well as $300,000 to donate to charity. Expectedly, it’s been met with opposition, but still, the rich get richer.

1. Scottie Scheffler arrested

Final reminder: Scottie Scheffler spent time preparing for the 2024 PGA Championship in a prison cell. If anything summed up the year in golf, it was that. The world No.1 was handcuffed and detained by police after a ‘misunderstanding’ ahead of the second round. From the mugshot to #FreeScottie, it was a wild ride.