Based in Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Fallon is a senior security manager with extensive experience in corporate risk management and crisis response. A former Hartford police officer and current UnitedHealth Group leader, Fallon applies his analytical and strategic skills to his work while pursuing his interest in sports and major tournaments. His background in law enforcement and leadership across the Northeast provides him with a disciplined perspective on high-performance competition and professional achievement. This reflection on the 2025 golf season, which featured unforgettable major championships and new milestones in the sport, aligns with Fallon’s appreciation for precision, resilience, and excellence in any field.
A Look Back at the 4 Major Championships in 2025 of Golf
Many will remember the 2025 PGA Tour season for its several first-time winners, emotional moments, and a contentious Ryder Cup, which Team Europe won 15-13. While there are 48 events on the 2025 calendar, none are bigger than the four majors: the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open Championship.
The Masters, the first of the four majors, arguably created the most emotional moment in golf, and perhaps all of sports, in 2025. Heading into the renowned tournament at Augusta National in Georgia, McIlroy, a four-time major champion, needed to win the coveted green jacket to complete the career grand slam. He had failed to accomplish the feat in his previous 10 trips to Augusta.
After a first-round 72 that had him outside the top-10 and seven strokes behind leader Justin Rose, it appeared McIlroy may have to wait at least another year. However, he responded with the low round of the day, 66, in the second round to jump into a tie for third. He shot 66 again in the third round, putting him two strokes ahead of Bryson DeChambeau for first place.
The final round was a wild ride for McIlroy. He lost his lead after a double bogey on the first hole, but led by four shots heading into the final nine holes. Tied with Rose for the lead on the 17th hole, McIlroy hit one of the best shots of his career, hitting an iron shot to within two feet of the cup for a birdie. He missed a short par putt on the 18th, however, forcing a playoff with Rose.
After Rose missed a 15-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole, McIlroy made his four-foot putt to end the 11-year wait and become the first European to win golf’s grand slam. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen are the only others to win all four major championships.
The 2025 PGA Championship was far less dramatic, especially during the final round. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler trailed leader Jhonattan Vegas by three strokes after the second round, but was in first place after the third round and eventually won by five strokes over DeChambeau, Harris English, and Davis Riley. It became Scheffler’s third major victory and first win at the PGA Championship.
J.J. Spaun was an unlikely winner at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. A journeyman who had 147 career starts before winning his first tournament at the 2022 Valero Texas Open, Spaun was the first-round leader at the US Open, but trailed American Sam Burns by one shot heading into the final round.
Spaun shot a disappointing 40 on the front nine in the final round, but rallied on the back nine, shooting an impressive 32 to record a two-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre. He put an exclamation mark on his first career major by sinking a 64-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
At The Open Championship, Scheffler became a four-time major winner with another dominant performance. He took a one-stroke clubhouse lead after the second round at 10-under par, stretched the gap to four strokes after the third round, and held on by the same margin after the final round. Scheffler followed the same path as Xander Schauffele, who won both The Open Championship and PGA Championship in 2024.
About Michael Fallon
Michael Fallon, based in Hartford, Connecticut, serves as senior manager of UnitedHealth Group’s US global security operations. He previously worked with Asphalt Green and Wells Fargo in corporate security roles and began his career as a Hartford police officer. With a degree in criminal justice from the University of New Haven, Fallon combines experience in law enforcement and organizational safety management.