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Traditions evolve. Yet changes spark nostalgia for the good old days, when pros showed up, played, and then left. Money was crucial then, too, but it felt more about loving the game with pure romanticism.

Pros still love golf. But the romanticism is somewhere lost to greed, egos, and social media flexes. Organizers obsess over “premium experience.” So bar expansions take precedence over fixing the greens. Poor courses on professional tours often mar that experience altogether.

Which also brings us to broadcasting. We’ve got shot trackers, drone shots, but frequent advertisements lead to missing important moments. Then there are $4M-purse events, but no more fun moments like caddie races — watch this unforgettable one from the WM Phoenix Open, where two loopers jumped on the green to win.

The PGA Tour decided to do away with this altogether!

On the other hand, swift changes hit scorecards. Reports show some private clubs ditched them post-pandemic, swapping for apps like My Score. Yardage books fade fast. Reportedly, clubs now order 1,500 yearly compared to 5,000 in the past.

Meanwhile, pleated pants, loose collars, and trad shoes ruled golf in the 2000s. Today’s styles mix expressive, nostalgic, and comfort vibes — golf is turning more inclusive. Traditional etiquette lingers but often gets flouted. Little wonder you see people destroying the putting green for missing a 12-footer.

Essentially, golf is evolving. Not bad inherently. But amid the rush, what traditions are we ditching? Now that’s a question most of us would like to be answered.

In our New Year’s special edition, you read what we were looking forward to this year. Here are five more things we want to see happen across five major leagues.

PGA Tour: Must do more to tell the stories of its players. Including the cut-missers whose pain we duffers understand. Watch this pro’s raw and unfiltered reaction after losing his Tour card, and you will demand the same. Aldrich Potgieter returns for his second year on Tour. Michael Thorbjornsen arrives after a spectacular season. Yet you’ll see or hear little of their journeys. That needs to change. Soon.

DP World Tour: The European Tour still leans on popular faces too much — like making Rory play with a $10 golf club, as you can see here. Despite boasting top rising stars, like Marco Penge, Kristoffer Reitan, Elvis Smylie, and Jayden Schaper (won twice in the last three starts). Check out Schaper’s brilliant chip-in eagle in a playoff — you don’t see this much drama every day in tournaments.

LIV Golf: LIV is switching from a 54-hole to a 72-hole format. Perhaps to appease the OWGR, but not the only major change this year — here is another you most likely missed. These frequent changes hint at instability, and to gain a loyal fan following, LIV Golf needs to stick to its guns.

LPGA: Commissioner Craig Kessler inked a new TV deal, and now every LPGA round will air live in the US. A promising start to boost popularity. And we hope that LPGA stars will also step up their social media game to help popularize the league and drive interest.

LET: Ladies European Tour in 2026 will span 21 countries with a record purse of £39m+ ($45m). Sky also expanded its agreement with the Tour. Now what’s needed in 2026 is joint events with the LPGA and more active coverage.

That’s five things from our 2026 wishlist. Before we move to the next story, tell us…

It’s winter, so outdoor golf is off the table for most. But skipping work on skills and muscles, and come spring, you’ll be rusty and lacking physical ability. The result might be a swing and a miss, like this tournament leader. So, avoid falling into that trap with the help of a resistance band.

• Tie two resistance bands together, then hitch one end to a pole or a solid foundation. Step in with your trail leg, then twist so the outside band goes over your glutes, and the other side under. Wrap yourself in this stance.

• Keep your head still and down. Drive your hip forward by pushing off the trailing foot. Think halfway down your backswing into an impact position. Watch Titleist Performance Institute-certified instructor Anthony Vessecchia demonstrate it below

• Do 10 to 15 reps and then switch legs, re-wrap the band, and repeat. Ideally, you should do more reps on the right side if you are a right-handed golfer, and vice versa.

Once you’re done with this exercise, here are five more that you can practice this winter to keep your game sharp.

We barely get to see the lives of golfers who grind on mini tours, developmental circuits, and maybe occasionally compete on the PGA Tour. Take this anonymous pro who just hung up his clubs after 12 years.

He played two years on the PGA Tour and held conditional status for another year. Fresh off retiring yesterday, he hopped on Reddit for an Ask-Me-Anything session. Ask him your questions here.

How much do golfers on developmental circuits make? We once got a hint from a KFT pro, and this anonymous pro’s admission just confirmed that. Moreover, he also shared some useful tips.

It's drilled home ad nauseam: short-game practice is crucial, especially inside 65 feet. However, this former pro urged fans to religiously hone 6-10 foot putts. Maybe, he’d clear your doubts as well.