Scottie Scheffler will love key difference between PGA Championship Dinner and Masters special meal

As Scottie Scheffler took his chair for Rory McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner, he might have taken a moment to think about an upcoming special meal of his own.

The world No. 1 will be the headline act at Aronimink Golf Club for this week’s PGA Championship, where he will look to defend the title he won 12 months ago.

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But before he steps onto the exclusive course, Scheffler will host his Champions Dinner.

While it’s perhaps not as well known as The Masters’ tradition, which saw McIlroy serve an Irish twist this year, the PGA Championship meal also holds a lot of history.

It dates back to 1965, when PGA of America officials asked defending champion Bobby Nichols if he would preside over a meal.

Nichols said he would be honored to do so, and nineteen past champions attended the inaugural feast.

In the years that followed, the tradition evolved.

Defending champions now doles out gifts to attendees.

PGA Champions Dinner differs from Masters tradition

Phil Mickelson famously furnished everyone with Faberge martini glasses in 2006, while Brooks Koepka offered out designer wallets a few years back.

McIlroy, meanwhile, went for modern, wireless Bose speakers.

In 2026, it will be Scheffler’s turn to fork out for the gifts.

But while that aspect of the Champions Dinner will hit his bank account, he’ll be happy to know that he won’t be footing the bill for the food and drink.

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At Augusta, the defending champion chooses the menu and picks up the tab.

But when it comes to the PGA Champions Dinner, it’s the PGA of America who deal with the cheque.

Scheffler, surely, will love that after paying for all the legends who joined him to eat at Augusta in 2025.

The American star is yet to reveal his menu at Aronimink, but will have to work pretty hard if he wants to beat last year’s food, picked by 2024 PGA Champion Xander Schauffele.

“I wanted everyone to be happy or to be able to eat whatever they’d like,” Schauffele said 12 months ago at the Truist Championship, where he stopped short of making the big reveal.

The PGA Championship officially unveiled the American’s choices on social media a few days later.

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He picked a selection of smoked goat cheese dates, pickled watermelon, clams casino shooters and steak crostini with blue cheese for his appetizers.

The main dish was wagyu New York strip steak, served with blackened jumbo shrimp, whipped sweet potatoes and a bourbon bone marrow reduction.

For dessert, Schauffele selected two all-American options for his fellow champions – a classic banana split and strawberry shortcake.

Good luck beating that in 2026, Scottie.

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