It’s the most exclusive dinner of the year on the LPGA, prepared by renowned Michelin-star chef Thomas Keller. The cost of admission? Win the Chevron Championship.
Past champions such as Betsy King, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley and Judy Rankin came in for the Monday night affair, curated in honor of 2025 champion Mao Saigo.
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“I was communicating with Chef Keller to ask him to put a little bit of Japanese taste into the course menu,” said Saigo through an interpreter, “and we exchanged a few emails.”
The sushi chef and Wagyu beef were her main priorities.
Chef Thomas Keller created the menu inspired by 2025 champion Mao Saigo.
2024 champion Nelly Korda had a chance to create the menu last year, which included a nod to her Czech roots.
“I was at the current player table where everyone is playing and active,” said Korda of Monday night’s scene. “Then you have the legends at one table, and they’re all screaming and having fun. And just listening to their stories, Pat Bradley spoke, Lydia (Ko) spoke, there are so many stories that people share during those nights.
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“What makes it so special is it stays in that room.”
A table setting at the annual Chevron Championship champions dinner on Monday evening in Houston.
Additional tournament perks this week include a Cadillac courtesy car for every member of the field. All past champions have the option to drive a Bentley, as well as a complimentary stay at the Post Oak Hotel, the only Forbes Five-Star Hotel and Spa in Texas. Â
LPGA players gather at the annual champions dinner at the Chevron Championship in Houston.
The 2026 Chevron gets underway on April 23 at Memorial Park, which annually hosts the PGA Tour’s Texas Children’s Houston Open. There are 11 past champions in the field, including Mao Saigo (2025), Nelly Korda (2024), Lilia Vu (2023), Jennifer Kupcho (2022), Patty Tavatanakit (2021), Jin Young Ko (2019), Lydia Ko (2016), Brittany Lincicome (2015, 2009), Lexi Thompson (2014), Stacy Lewis (2011) and Yani Tseng (2010)
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Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek and a consistent contributor to Golf Channel.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Michelin-star chef Thomas Keller prepares dinner for LPGA stars