It’s official, the 2025 PGA Championship has arrived. But before the second major of the year begins on Thursday, one important tradition must happen first: the PGA Champions Dinner. And on Sunday, defending champion Xander Schauffele’s choice for the Champions Dinner menu was finally revealed.
What is the PGA Champions Dinner?
First, a little background. Most golf fans are aware of the annual Masters Champions Dinner. For decades, the previous Masters Champion treats all former winners to a meal of their choosing at Augusta National on Tuesday of the Masters. Scottie Scheffler served massive cowboy ribeyes at this year’s dinner.
It’s a popular, exclusive event that brings the game’s biggest legends together at the same table every year.
The PGA Champions Dinner dates back to 1965, but there is one key difference from the Masters Champions Dinner. At Augusta, the defending champion chooses the food and picks up the tab. At the PGA Champions Dinner, the PGA of America generously foots the bill.
Past PGA Champions Dinners have been more laid-back affairs compared to the Masters dinner, with spouses sometimes attending. But that’s changing at Quail Hollow.
According to the PGA of America, this year’s PGA Champions Dinner hosted by Schauffele will be a much more intimate event, and partners will not be joining past champions at the dinner.
As with the Masters dinner, the PGA Champions Dinner is held the Tuesday of PGA Championship week.
Xander’s PGA Champions Dinner menu
At last week’s Truist Championship, Schauffele said a few words about the philosophy behind his PGA Champions Dinner menu.
“I wanted everyone to be happy or to be able to eat whatever they’d like,” Schauffele said, but he stopped short of making the big reveal.
Then on Sunday night, the PGA Championship officially unveiled Schauffele’s choices on social media.
For appetizers, the past PGA champions will be served a selection of smoked goat cheese dates, pickled watermelon, clams casino shooters and steak and bleu cheese crostini.
For the main course, Schauffele decided to go big with one of the most expensive types of beef found anywhere in the world. The PGA winners will feast on Wagyu NY strip steak, served with blackened jumbo shrimp, whipped sweet potatoes and a bourbon bone marrow reduction.
Finally, Schauffele selected two dessert options for his fellow champions, both of which are classic American sweet treats: banana split and strawberry shortcake.
Schauffele’s gift for past PGA champions
But all the previous PGA champions who choose to attend Schauffele’s dinner won’t just receive a delicious meal. They’ll also receive a special gift.
Though the tradition is not as old as the PGA Champions Dinner, the defending champion usually has purchased gifts for the rest of the past champions in recent years. And Schauffele is keeping up with that tradition.
