Sure, the golf at the Masters is dissected and broken down on a sub-atomic level, but at this point, it feels like it pales in comparison to the Champions Dinner critiques. Especially when it comes to Rory McIlroy’s recent (and first!) Augusta National meal.
ESPN analysts ripped the feast, as did our very own podcasters, with Dan Orlovsky going so far as to say that he would “probably eat one thing” off the menu. And the green jackets are still ridiculing Bubba Watson’s “Chuck E. Cheese” Champions Dinner in 2015, so it just kinda seems like no one’s ever happy … including Charles Barkley.
Chuck made his own Masters dinner menu after hearing Rory McIlroy's 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/9sUT3A7VMB
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) April 15, 2026
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Although Barkley has never partaken in the famous Masters meal (and never will), Sir Charles still had something to say when it came to McIlroy’s highfalutin selections. Sometimes, the discourse is just too much, considering McIlroy’s already in the midst of planning out his next dinner. Most likely without the NBA great’s assistance.
“It’s a little too foo foo for me,” Barkley said on The Stream Room podcast to Ernie Johnson. “The flatbread. That’s not a thing. You gotta have meat on your flatbread.”
And when asked about bacon-wrapped dates, Barkley couldn’t hold back his rage: “That’s the only way you can f— up bacon.”
At least, Barkley gave us his own menu, starting it off with an ode to Augusta National’s concessions.
“I’d take the fried chicken they got at the Masters. For appetizers, I’ll start with shrimp cocktail and crab cocktail. A Caesar salad, no anchovies. Some type of vegetarian bull—. A Dover sole. A key lime pie and apple pie and vanilla ice cream.”
Well, if Barkley ever pulls a “Like Mike” talent swap with McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler, perhaps we’ll see that meal at a future Champions Dinner. Until then, it’s up to McIlroy. We’ll find out soon enough if bacon-wrapped dates make a comeback.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
