Risers Come Fallers has appeared, and the PGA Tour has had plenty of both throughout the 2025 campaign. Relatively unpredictable players like Ben Griffin and JJ Spawn made upward movements in the golf world, while others went down the ladder amid poor plays and premature injuries.
Of course, this is all relative to the player and his resume. The major champions are bound by different standards than second-year PGA Tour members. The former FedEx Cup champion is expected to compete year after year in the crown during the season, but if it’s an early exit from a consistent major, it will raise the red flag (or 3).
All this can be that once a player reaches the peak, the only place he often can go down. Not all players listed below have returned to base camp or even towns under perch, but have not maintained their position at the summit this season.
Golf consistency is difficult and it is difficult to gain more longevity. The 2025 season wasn’t going as planned for some, but the offseason is here to reorganize, reorganize and reestablish the position among the game’s greats for upcoming campaigns.
Xander Schauffele
Looking back at the 2025 season, identify the most memorable shots Schaufere has made. Are you still thinking about it? I didn’t understand that. New to the two Mayor campaigns in 2024, Schauffele, who appeared to claim him among the best of the game, stumbled from the block due to a rib injury and found no footing for the rest of the year. Of course, he maintained his longest cut streak since Tiger Woods, finishing in the top 12 in three of the four major championships, automatically qualifying for the US Ryder Cup team. However, the vital tournament victory and run was what was expected of the top three players in the world, and it was not a reality. Schauffele has experienced his worst stats years since his sophomore season on the PGA Tour, and has had the worst putting season of his entire career as his short game took a big step.
Patrick Cantray
The history book would say he was the second best player on the 2025 PGA Tour. Cantray was all non-factor as he missed cuts in three of the four major championships, except for the final week of 2025, and missed points accumulated in non-competitive finishes in the signing event. After competing in the US Presidential Cup team at the 2024 US Open, Cantrey looked ready to take a step forward on the big stage. He will get another opportunity at the Ryder Cup, but his chances on the PGA Tour have passed as he has not won since the 2022 BMW Championship.
Keegan Bradley, among the PGA Tour players who exceeded expectations during the 2025 season
Robbie Kalland
Wyndham Clark
When your antics make more noise than your play, it’s never positive. Unfortunately, that was the case with Clark in 2025. The former US Open winner threw a driver at the sponsorship sign at the PGA Championship (collectively one of his own sponsors), and a tantrum at the US Open at the Oakmont Locker Room. His play across the meat of the PGA Tour schedule was plagued by inconsistencies as he circulated through new putters and was unable to find his form with the irons in his hand. He found something towards the end of the season with a top five finish at the open, but overall, this season was combined for his final two signature event victory, runner-up in the Player Championship and his US Open victory.
Tony’s discussion
Since 2016, Finau hasn’t missed the Tour Championship, and one has done better this year, missing the BMW Championship. Having played just 20 times (the fewest event of his career), Finau discovered tension in his usual location (the Greens), but from the unusual location (the tee) to his iron play this September, he went through the worst approach season with a big margin from the same 2016 campaign. As someone who was a member of five of the last six US teams between the Presidential Cup and the Ryder Cup, Finau has not made this year’s team, which ended his top 10 finish with the Torrey Pines in February.
Sahith theegala
A neck injury caused Tegala to withdraw from several tournaments and missed the PGA Championship, but his play also didn’t benefit him. New appearances from his debut in the Presidential Cup, Theegala was considered a player who could make a leap in 2025 and instead retreat. The fun-loving right-hander did not collect top 10 finishes and collected one individual top 20 results in February at Genesis Invitational. After he returned from a neck injury, Tegala sputtered with four missed cuts to end the summer. After improving each of the first three seasons on the PGA Tour year-over-year, Tegala regressed to a sub-average player in 2025.
