LIV Golf or PGA Tour? Which Tour Stars Had a Better Flavoured Champions Dinner Menu in the Past Six Years at the Masters

While the golf world is eagerly waiting for the Masters next month, the previous winners of the Major are excited to meet other Green Jacket holders at the Champions Dinner hosted by Scottie Scheffler. However, this year’s dinner will be not usual like past evenings, as it is expected to be an awkward encounter of LIV Golf players with their former colleagues from the PGA Tour. As players from both Tours are massively criticized by each other, let’s take a look at who has better taste when it comes to deciding the menu at the Champions Dinner.

The Masters is among the greatest sporting events in the world of sports. Its decades-long traditions are still being practiced by the current generation. Among many of its customs is the Champions Dinner, which is hosted by the winner of the previous edition annually and held on the Tuesday of tournament week at the Augusta National.

The iconic dinner table will have winners of all the previous editions of Masters. This year, world number one, Scottie Scheffler will be hosting the legendary feast. Since the menu for the upcoming Champions Dinner was publicly revealed yesterday, we take a look at who has better taste when it comes to food. Is it the PGA Tour players or the stars of LIV Golf?

PGA Tour: Champions Dinner Menu

Over the last six years, the Green Jacket has been won by three players from the American Tour and the rest three by LIV Golf defectors. Nonetheless, in 2019, Tiger Woods stunned the world after claiming his 15th Major title at Augusta National. A year later, when he hosted the Champions Dinner, it looked more royal than his ‘Cheeseburgers’ and ‘French Fries’ menu in 1998.

Woods served fellow Masters winners with The Augusta Roll as starters, which comprised of Tempura shrimp and spicy Tuna. While the first meal may have looked exquisite, he then had Prime steak and Fajitas along with Mexican rice and grilled vegetables for the main course. For dessert, Tiger indulged the guests with chocolate dipped Churros, Classic Flan, and Sopapillas, labeling the final meal as the ‘Desert Trio’.

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While the Hall of Famer may have spoilt his guests with the mesmerizing menu, in 2021, Hideki Matsuyama decided to honor his homeland by bringing traditional Japanese dishes to the Champions Dinner table. Being the first Japanese to wear the Green Jacket, Matsuyama had assorted sushi along with chicken skewers for appetizers.

He then served the Dashi Broth soup before bringing the iconic Japanese Wagyu Beef to the table. For dessert, Matsuyama had Japanese Strawberry Shortcake served which were dished out with Japanese-grown Amou strawberries. Though bettering the Japanese cuisine may be a challenge, Scottie Scheffler isn’t here for comparisons.

Last year’s Masters’ winner will host the Champions dinner on April 4, 2023. Usually, the menu is released a week before the iconic dinner , but Scheffler has revealed his 5-course meal weeks before the Masters. The world number one will start the night with cheeseburger sliders and Firecracker Shrimp as appetizers.

The Masters’ winners will then be served Soup filled with Avocado and Crispy Blue Tortilla Strips. Scottie then hopes to pays his home state a tribute by having a traditional Texas Ribeye Steak along with Family Mac n Cheese. Guests also have the option of choosing the other main course meal which will be Blackened Redfish. Warm Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookies and Milk & Cookies and Ice Cream will be served as dessert.

While the PGA Tour stars have served various cuisines worth mentioning, let’s take a look at how great the LIV Golf stars are when it comes to deciding the menu for the Champions Dinner.

LIV Golf: Champions Dinner Menu

After turning pro in 1999, Sergio Garcia finally won his first Major 18 years later, after claiming the 2017 Masters title. A year later while hosting the Champions Dinner, the Spanish golfer made sure the evening would be remembered for years. Apart from bringing Spanish cuisine to the table, Garcia also paid tribute to their fellow legends on the table through his appetizer.

Dubbed the ‘International Salad’, it comprised of all the ingredients representing the countries of previous Masters Champions. On the main course, the Spaniard served Arroz Caldosa de Bogavante, which is a traditional Spanish lobster rice. Named after Sergio’s wife, Angela Garcia’s Tres Leches cake was served at the end to conclude the dinner.

Four days after the Spanish-themed dinner, another future LIV Golf star added his first Major win to his resume. After years of rising on the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed finally won the Masters in 2018 and got the opportunity to host the golfing legends a year later. However, the 32-year-old did not disappoint.

Reed provided the previous Green Jacket winners with the choice of two salads: Wedge salad and Caesar salad. The appetizers were then followed by a Prime Bone-In Cowboy Ribeye, with fish also available upon request. The main course also had Macaroni and Cheese, Steamed broccoli, Creamed spinach, and Corn Creme Brulee. Like options in the rest of the courses, Reed also had many desserts available such as Tiramisu, Praline Cheesecake, and much more.

When the inaugural LIV Golf season winner, Dustin Johnson, hosted the Champions Dinner in 2021, he didn’t provide many options like his fellow defector, Patrick Reed. However, even the simple menu looked spectacular for a dinner with golfing greats. He served the fan favorite, Pigs in a blanket as his first appetizer followed by lobsters and Corn fritters.

The legends on the dinner table had to choose the first course between Caesar salad or House salad. Mashed potatoes and spring vegetables were served as sides. Having admiration for fishing, Johnson didn’t shy away from displaying his love for the sea throughout his main course. Fillet Mignon and Misa marinated Sea Bass were served as the main course. However, the dessert was simple with Peach Cobbler and Apple pie served with Vanilla ice cream.

Who has the better menu? LIV Golf stars or PGA Tour stars?

Though delicious food remains the main objective of the Champions Dinner, the legendary night is also about representing your background to the legends of the sport. While Sergio Garcia’s main course and dessert along with Patrick Reed’s main dish may have been mouth-watering enough, it still doesn’t match the overall menu of the PGA Tour stars.

From Hideki Matsuyama bringing Japanese cuisine to Augusta National to Scottie Scheffler paying tribute to Texas, the American Tour stars did have a better taste than the LIV Golf defectors. Moreover, the PGA Tour also has the advantage of Tiger Woods, who has hosted the Champions Dinner the most number of times (5) only after Jack Nicklaus (6). Perhaps the experience may have been quite helpful for him.

Nonetheless, that doesn’t undermine the taste buds of the lucrative Tour stars. They do have a great selection of menu, but just not better than their former colleagues. Regardless of the past, each Masters from hereon will be a battleground for the players of both Tours.

Who according to you had a better Champions Dinner menu? LIV Golf players or PGA Tour players? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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