The 2025 PGA Championship Dinner, held at Quail Hollow Club on May 14, may have had all the trappings of a fancy dinner — fine white tablecloths, gleaming silverware, a gourmet menu, and the elite of golf. But what it lacked was the soul and storytelling that defined its counterpart at the Augusta Masters. The banter of past golfing legends wasn’t just noticed—it was called out.
The event, hosted by defending champion Xander Schauffele, offered a fabulous menu that included Clam Shooters, Steak Crostini, and Wagyu New York Strip Steak (both with a barrage of Bleu cheese), Jumbo Prawns, and Banana split or Strawberry shortcake for dessert. But, despite the five-star dining, one couldn’t help but notice there was something missing in the star-studded evening. What could it have been? Ah, yes, a touch of tradition.
Appearing on the Sky Sports Golf podcast with Jamie Weir, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington said it perfectly, “We need guys in that room named Trevino. We need guys in that room named Nicklaus, and to listen to those two kind of banter off each other,” Harrington said. “We need guys in there that have got great personalities—and right now, we don’t.”
According to Harrington, the guest list this year—reportedly consisting of current players, tournament officials like John Harris, and a few past golfers such as Larry Nelson and Lanny Wadkins —was pretty limited. Respect to them, of course, but it’s a far cry from the lineup of living legends you see gather each year at Augusta’s Masters Dinner — which had Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Gary Player. The second floor of the Clubhouse, where it is held, practically glows with legacy. He said, “That’s what the difference is between the Masters and the PGA Championship is that we just don’t have the old timers come back year in and year out.”
Missing Clubhouse Tales: Bringing the Heart Back to the PGA Championship Dinner
The Augusta Dinner has the old memories, the laughs, and that priceless ‘BS’ Harrington jokingly referred to—the funny, candid moments that only veterans of the game, like Jack Nicklaus, can deliver. In fact, Nicklaus’s sharp wit has made him a beloved presence at such exclusive gatherings, where he is known for delighting fellow champions by playfully ribbing younger players or sharing interesting tales from golf’s golden era. Compared to that, the PGA Championship’s Dinner feels a bit buttoned-up and kind of corporate. Harrington continued, “We need to get the guys who won 10, 15, 20 years ago and tell the stories, and carry on everything that this championship has presented us.”
The off-the-cuff banter, the historical anecdotes, the shared memories—these aren’t just side attractions; they are what give these glittering events their identity. Like Harrington said, a bit wistfully, “I would love to go and sit with them, and listen to all that BS, and the funny stuff that they would say.” The “all that BS” here is not criticism, but just a call to add more ‘heart’ to the event.
Harrington’s words are a powerful reminder that legacy matters, and the PGA Championship deserves that kind of magic. Sure, getting the old golfing champs in the same room won’t be easy, but with the PGA’s clout, making it happen shouldn’t be impossible.
The post ‘All their BS!’: PGA Club Leaders Urged to Invite Jack Nicklaus & Co. After Championship Dinner Fails to Match Masters’ Gravitas appeared first on EssentiallySports.
