Tis the season to eat turkey.
And stuffing and pumpkin pie. It’s food glorious food from sun up to sundown. Throw in football and a good nap and is there any better day of the year than Thanksgiving? We think not.
Thanksgiving is a tradition-laden holiday, so we asked 10 PGA Tour pros at the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia, what their favorite holiday tradition is and how they typically spend the day.
Most of them are gearing up to go to town on turkey, dressing, a variety of pies and wear the fat pants all weekend, but we had a few outliers planning to smoke brisket.
Whatever your tradition may be, we wish you a festive day and a safe and happy Black Friday.
Matt Kuchar
Matt Kuchar with sons Carson, Cameron and wife Sybi at the Sony Open. Photo by Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
“At some point, around the table, everyone says two things they are grateful for. It’s one of those simple, good things to do every year. I think it’s what Thanksgiving is meant to be. I think that’s what makes it a great holiday: to be grateful, to be thankful for some things.”
Scott Stallings
Scott Stallings meets his wife, Jennifer, and his son, Finn, on the 18th hole after winning the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open on Torrey Pines South.
“I was made for Thanksgiving. I may not partake as much as I used to, I still know all about it.
“I’m trying to change it up. I’m trying to bring beef to Thanksgiving. We’ll do turkey and stuff, but I’m going to do some short ribs this year too and try to change it up a little bit. I’m probably going to get crucified for this — I think overall Thanksgiving food is somewhat overrated. That’s a strong statement. I think most everything is very enjoyable, but there’s a lot of other things that I would like to add to Thanksgiving that I think would encompass the things that my family enjoys.”
Bill Haas
Jay Haas and Bill Haas pose with the Presidents Cup trophy following their victory over the International Team in 2015 in South Korea. Photo by Chris Condon/PGA Tour
“My mom cooks an unbelievable spread. It’s all really good, but her stuffing stands out as it’s the only time of the year I ever eat it. My Uncle, (former Tour pro and later a rules official) Dillard Pruitt, he usually does the turkeys. We used to have a turkey games for all the kids and go to my parents’ beach house for a little bit but with the kids getting older it’s hard to get everyone together. On Friday, we’ll go to my wife’s side of the family and go to their farm and sit by the fire and watch college football and stuff like that.”
Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson tosses his ball to the gallery after sinking his eagle putt on the 18th green during the second round of the RSM Classic. Photo by John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
“Currently we have a Thanksgiving football game. My wife makes T-shirts and it’s kind of fun. I like the food even better than that. I’m an eater. As a kid, my mom’s first cousin always brought a craft and we’d make a holiday ornament, and my mom’s uncle brought homemade ice cream. That was a great tradition. Looking back on it, I’d love to go back to those days. My childhood was anything but rough.”
Sebastian Munoz
Sebastian Munoz poses with his caddie Matco Gomez and the trophy after winning the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship. Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
“Being from Colombia, we don’t really celebrate that, but this year I’m having a lot of my high school friends over since it’s our 10-year reunion and I invited them over and hosting a Friends-giving.”
Talor Gooch
Talor Gooch celebrates with his wife Ally and their daughter Collins after winning the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club. Photo by John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
“On my mom’s side they make these special rolls, like these red rolls, and I’ll eat like eight of them. They are my favorites. I load up on dessert too. Just the food and football for me.”
Tyler McCumber
Tyler McCumber reacts after finishing his final round with a 60 at the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club. Photo by John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s another excuse to get together and hangout. I think we are going to get together in St. Augustine. We normally just all cook and it’s really not that much different than any other night at the McCumber household. Though, I think this year we’re going to get it catered. So that might be a new tradition.”
Brandt Snedeker
Brandt Snedeker with wife Mandy and son Austin during the Par 3 Contest at the 2019 Masters. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“I’m a big stuffing guy. Gotta have homemade stuffing. That’s the best. And you can always tell after I’ve eaten it because I look stuffed.
“The biggest thing for us is getting everybody under one roof. We’ll have a big feast, do some hunting, some fishing together, put the clubs up for 3-4 days and get the kids together and let them go crazy. Everyone is busy these days and those times together are few and far between.”
Seamus Power
Seamus Power holds the trophy after winning the 2021 Barbasol Championship. Photo by Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
“I love Thanksgiving. I didn’t really know much about it coming to the U.S., but one of my early memories was I had friends in southeastern Louisiana, some of my college teammates, we went down to Louisiana and I ate something I had never even heard of, it was Turduckin.
“I’ve loved Thanksgiving ever since. It’s great. Anytime you get family and friends together I think it’s going to be a good thing. Life is kind of hectic nowadays and people kind of miss that, so I think it’s great for everyone to kind of hit pause for a couple days and enjoy each other’s company.
“I have a cousin in Las Vegas and I’d say him and his wife are the host and hostess of the year, so hopefully can help out something and yeah, have a good time.”
Webb Simpson
Webb Simpson with son James and wife Dowd during the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National. Photo by USA TODAY Spots
“We go to Pinehurst every year for Thanksgiving. I have a house there and my mom will rent one near us.
“We always go take in the big fox hunt. The dogs go off, horses ride and there’s probably 300-400 people that post up early like 7:30 on Thanksgiving morning, watch for an hour and when they go we head home and start cooking.”
