Tag: Champions Dinner

Masters releases 2024 Champions Dinner portrait at Augusta National

The dinner was hosted by 2023 Masters champ Jon Rahm.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tuesday night was Masters Champions Dinner night at Augusta National Golf Club. For this year’s take on the annual gathering in the Augusta National clubhouse, host and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm brought in a good friend to assist.

“With the help of José Andrés, the chef who I feel like needs no introduction for a lot of people, we made what would be a northern Spanish Basque country Bilbao menu and basically put in all of my favorites and even included a dish from my grandma,” Rahm said of his menu. “He called my grandma for the recipe. If somebody doesn’t like it, please just don’t tell me.  Don’t tell anyone actually. It means a little bit too much to me to hear it.”

There’s been some interesting menu choices, to say the least, over the last 30 years.

Rahm’s menu consisted of tapas and pinxtos to a first-course salad, main course fish and steak and a creamy desert.

The annual dinner portrait was released Tuesday night, with Rahm front and center with Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley to his left and two-time Masters champ Ben Crenshaw to his right.

There were 33 Masters champions in all in the photo.

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Jon Rahm’s 2024 Masters champions dinner menu serves up some Spanish flair

If you’re not hungry now, you will be after reading this.

Jon Rahm is giving the past winners at Augusta National a taste of Spain with his 2024 champions dinner menu.

Officially known as the Masters Club Dinner, the gathering of past Masters champions happens every Tuesday of tournament week and dates to Ben Hogan in 1952. This year, the dinner will be held April 9, 2024, and feature a variety of Spanish cuisine, the majority of which hales from Rahm’s native Basque region of the country.

“With the help of José Andres, the chef who I feel like needs no introduction for a lot of people, we made what would be a northern Spanish Basque country Bilbao menu and basically put in all of my favorites and even included a dish from my grandma,” said Rahm of his menu. “He called my grandma for the recipe. If somebody doesn’t like it, please just don’t tell me.  Don’t tell anyone actually. It means a little bit too much to me to hear it.”

From tapas and pinxtos to a first-course salad, main course fish and steak and a creamy desert, here’s what will be served in honor of Mr. Jon Rahm at the 2024 Masters Club Dinner.

MORE: Masters Champions Dinner menus over the last 30 years

Starters (tapas y pinxtos)

Ibericos: Acord-fed iberian ham cured pork loin

Idiazabal con Trufa Negra: Idiazabal cheese, black truffle

Tortilla de Patatas: Spanish omelette, onions, confit potatoes

Chistorra con Patata: Spicy basque chorizo, potato

Lentejas Estofadas: Mama Rahm’s classic lentil stew

Croqueta de Pollo: Creamy chicken fritters, confit potatoes

First course

Ensalada de Txangurro: Basque crab salad, potato

Main course (choice of)

Chuleton a la Parilla: Basque ribeye, tudela lettuce, piquillo peppers

“Usually traditionally they will basically serve it to you already cut up and then you have a hot plate that you can cook it up to your temperature,” Rahm said. “Most people in northern Spain go about as much as medium rare. If you go past that, you’re going to get a weird look just because that’s how we are. Very proud people of what we do, and meat usually is high quality.”

“That would be essentially what’s my favorite. Every time I go back home I try to eat it. It’s in a serving size, so usually those steaks are about four pounds, and you’re searing it. It’s not single service,” he added. “You’re searing it with at least three or four people. They usually also come with peppers, sometimes fries, sometimes a little salad; this is lettuce, onions, olive oil and vinegar.”

Rodaballo al Pil-Pil: Turbot, navarra white asparagus

“It’s a white fish, very local from where I come from, which actually most common is cod or sea bass, but I don’t like cod so I refuse to have something I don’t like at my dinner,” said Rahm.

Dessert

Milhojas de Crema y Nata: Puff pastry cake, custard and chantilly cream

“Then dessert, the translation from Spanish, which is Milhojas, would be 1,000 leaves. It’s basically a puff pastry with custard and just very little layers,” he explained. “It was basically Kelley and I’s wedding cake. It varies a little bit where you’re doing it in Spain, but it’s absolutely one of my favorites.”

Wine

Rahm will serve a Basque white wine from Vizcaya, called Txakoli, which is a bit drier than normal white wine. He will also serve a red win, Imperial.

“I wanted to put a little bit of my heritage and my family into this dinner, which is going to make it even more special,” said Rahm. “Hopefully I get to do it again, but I wanted to make sure the Basque Heritage was there. I know José has done it twice, but where he’s from and where I’m from is a little bit different, so I wanted to put a little bit of my essence into it, and I’m hoping they really like it.”

If all that tastes as good as it sounds, the past champions are in for quite a treat.

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Jon Rahm gives early look at what’s on his Masters Champions Dinner menu

The Masters champions will be treated to a little Spanish flavor.

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The two questions Jon Rahm gets asked the most are what was he thinking when his tee ball hit the branch on No. 18 at the Masters and what is he going to serve for his Champions Dinner after he eventually won?

The two-time major champion was a guest on the Pardon My Take podcast and said he hasn’t given the menu as much thought as some may think.

“The first few weeks it’s all I thought about for some reason,” said Rahm ahead of this week’s BMW Championship at Olympia Fields in Illinois. “After that, I haven’t. I know the dessert.”

Rahm said the menu will include Milhojas, which is a layered pastry dish. He also said the cocktail reception will include a Spanish ham, Jamón ibérico.

“Everything in between I have no idea,” he said, while also noting he has an idea for the wine, but he’s not sure if it needs to be part of the wine cellar at Augusta National.

The 28-year-old Spaniard won the Masters in April by four shots over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson for his second major championship after previously winning the 2021 U.S. Open. Rahm currently sits atop the points standings as he enters this week’s second of three FedEx Cup Playoff events, where he’s paired with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler for the opening two rounds outside Chicago.

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What happened at the Masters Champions Dinner 2023? Fuzzy Zoeller and others give us the dirt

The elephant in the room went unaddressed Tuesday evening at Augusta National.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The elephant in the room went unaddressed Tuesday evening at the Champions Dinner.

According to multiple past champions, the topic of Masters winners leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf was not mentioned during the annual get-together.

“We’re just 33 past champions in a room, all trying to get along,” said 1979 winner Fuzzy Zoeller. “Nobody said a word about it. Phil sat near the end of the table and kept to himself. He didn’t speak at all.”

As for Fred Couples?

“Couples spoke a lot but didn’t mention LIV at all,” 1973 winner Tommy Aaron said. “I sat next to Freddie, and he and Ray Floyd kept trying to figure out how many champions had come out of the final group.”

Ben Crenshaw, who’s been the emcee of the dinner since 2005, welcomed the table by reading a 1954 letter that Ben Hogan had scribed to Masters co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The letter shared the significance of being a member of the Masters Club.

“Dear Bob and Cliff,” wrote Hogan, as thirty-three sets of eyes latched to Crenshaw. “Today I received my invitation to the 1954 Masters Tournament and I am delighted to see this familiar invitation again. It brings back memories of the time I received my first invitation, back in 1938. Prior to that year, I remember hoping and praying that my game and record would qualify me for this much-prized invitation.”

More: Masters Champions Dinner menus over the last 30 years

Crenshaw paused to ensure all remained engaged. It wasn’t the first two paragraphs that stood out, but rather Hogan’s final words.

“Surely this has to be the most exclusive club of all. Not only do a fortunate few of us have the tournament to look forward to, but the annual meeting of our club as well. Here, long after serious competition for some of us comes to an end, we can still get together and reminisce,” Hogan wrote.

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Chairman Fred Ridley also spoke, but similar to Crenshaw, he didn’t mention LIV golf. Instead, Ridley thanked the table for inviting him and shared about alterations to the golf course — most specifically to No. 13 tee box.

After dinner was served, Crenshaw recognized Scottie Scheffler, while lifting a right hand in the shape of the hook ’em horns sign.

“Everybody knows how Ben feels about Texas,” Aaron said. “And he made sure the table knew how well Texans have played in Augusta. You know, Crenshaw gave us a big hook ’em horns and he, Scottie and Jordan Spieth all enjoyed that.”

When asked how the food was, Aaron said, “The ribeye was fantastic, but the tortilla soup was spicy as hell.”

Added Fuzzy: “That soup was pretty damn spicy, but I enjoyed everything else.”

Crenshaw then recognized four members of the Masters Club: Tommy Aaron (50th anniversary), Mark O’Meara (25th anniversary), as well as Larry Mize and Sandy Lyle who are competing in their final Masters.

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Mize became emotional when addressing the table, saying how much it meant “for an Augusta boy” to win the Masters.

Aaron also spoke, sharing a story about the conclusion of the 1973 Masters when he was inside Butler Cabin waiting for J.C. Snead to finish.

“J.C.’s in the bunker on No. 17, and hits out to about 15 feet,” Aaron told the table. “So Jack looks at me and says, ‘No chance he’ll make this putt. You’ve got the tournament won.’ Well, of course the putt goes in, and I’m thinking, ‘Thanks a lot, Jack.’”

As for Aaron’s thoughts on Mickelson, “I wished him good luck, but I couldn’t believe how quiet he was. Phil took a very low profile. He didn’t say a word.”

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

Scheffler, defending Masters Tournament champion, was the guest of honor and the Texan ordered up a dinner of cheeseburger sliders, firecracker shrimp, tortilla soup, Texas ribeye or blackened redfish and for dessert, a warm chocolate chip skillet cookie with milk & cookies ice cream.

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Masters Champions Dinner menus over the last 30 years

Check out some of the best (and worst) Champions Dinner menus.

Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters are both steeped in history.

One of the best traditions of the annual meeting down Magnolia Lane is the Champions Dinner held each Tuesday night of tournament week. Over the years, some of the best players to ever swing a club have gathered to share a meal of the defending champion’s choice.

This year, Scottie Scheffler is offering up a Texas-sized menu for his fellow champions to feast on. But how does the world No. 1’s menu stack up with previous dinners?

Fair warning, readers, this list of Masters Champions Dinner menus over the last 30 years is sure to make you hungry.

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

Editor’s note: The year listed is the year the dinner was served, not the year the player won the Masters.

As Masters Tournament returns, signs point to LIV players leading the storylines for 2023

Storylines are coming from all directions, starting with what could be a contentious Champions Dinner.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — If the playing of the 87th Masters Tournament is half as interesting as all the lead-in conjecture this week, it will be one that will be remembered for years to come.

As official practice rounds begin Monday morning, storylines are coming from all directions, starting with what could be a contentious Champions Dinner on Tuesday night as six former champions are now part of the controversial LIV Golf tour and expected to be in attendance.

As for the course itself, for the second year in a row, one of the second nine par 5s has been lengthened. This time, it’s the iconic 13th. It’s a move that has been talked about since Augusta National Golf Club bought land from neighboring Augusta County Club in 2017. This year, it’s a reality.

On the course, it’s one of those years that the top players in the world are peaking at just the right time for the Masters.

They are the new Big Three

  • Defending champion Scott Scheffler
  • Jon Rahm
  • Rory McIlroy

This is McIlroy’s ninth try to complete the career Grand Slam. He’s coming off his best finish here, a solo second last year thanks to a final-round 64.

LIV’s first big moment at Masters? Champions Dinner

Some past champions, such as Fred Couples, have expressed their displeasure with the breakaway LIV Golf League. Since last year’s Champions Dinner, six former champions have joined the league and are expected to be in attendance Tuesday night.

That includes three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who skipped the dinner and the tournament last year in the wake of comments critical of the PGA Tour and his support of LIV. He joined LIV in June, and was followed by former Masters champions Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel.

Scheffler, who will host the dinner as the defending champ, joked with Watson that maybe there should be a separate table for the LIV golfers. Nick Faldo, a three-time champ, joked that perhaps it might be wise to use “plastic knives and forks.”

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

In all, there are 18 LIV golfers in the 2023 Masters field, including four-time major champion Brooks Koepka and the winner of the most recent LIV event in Orlando. All of them have been sensitive to criticism that, because they are banned by the PGA Tour and have only played three events this season (including one in Orlando that ended Sunday), they might have lost their edge. They also play 54 holes tournaments, not the normal 72.

The PGA Tour has banned LIV members from playing its events. But the four majors, including the Masters, are allowing those who qualified to play.

“Most of us will get four cracks at it this year (in the major championships), and hopefully we get maybe a win out of it,” said Cameron Smith, the current British Open champ and LIV’s highest player in the world ranking. “Maybe we just show a really hearty effort. I think for us, internally, there’s a lot of chatter going around about, ‘These guys don’t play real golf anymore.’ And I think it’s (crap) to be honest. And we just want to show people that.”

“I think there is a big rivalry right now between the Tour and LIV,” said Joaquin Niemann, another LIV member. “I think there is a lot of players that – I don’t know if they don’t like us or they don’t like the decisions that we take – but it’s going to be fun.”

“I think it’s going to be more fun knowing that they hate us,” Niemann said. “Then go to the majors and beat them.”

Will Augusta National pair them all together? It’s doubtful. The former champions are normally paired with amateurs. Will the fan reaction be muted?

And what if a LIV golfer wins? That could very well happen, especially since Smith is unquestionably one of the game’s top players. He’s shown he can win here, with top-10 finishes in each of the past three years. He tied for second in 2020, becoming the first golfer in tournament history to break 70 in all four rounds, tied for 10th in 2021 and tied for third last year.

Lucky, or unlucky, new 13th hole?

Back to the lengthening of the 13th hole. The tee was moved straight back and up the hill 35yards, making it play at 545 yards. It will be more difficult for players to draw their ball around the dogleg right corner on the par-5. That means fewer player will go for the water-guarded green in two shots, and eagles will be rarer. But there were only three there last year.

Last year, when the other second-nine par-5, the 15th, was lengthened by 20 yards to 550 yards, there was zero eagles recorded.

The change on No. 13 puzzles two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.

“It will change the hole,” Watson said. “It’s now driver (off the tee) and maybe a long iron into the green. Will they take out trees on the bend? That’ll determine how much harder it is when it comes to going for it in two. There’s probably going to be a lot more lay-ups. A few years ago, they wanted the roars back on Sunday. Now you’re taking away the roars? That’s kind of weird.”

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‘They are still my friends’: Scottie Scheffler isn’t sure what the vibe will be like with LIV golfers at Masters Champions Dinner

“I haven’t totally decided what I will say.”

Scottie Scheffler has picked his menu for the Champions Dinner on April 4. What will he say to the past champions, which includes many members of LIV Golf, such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson, his former partner at the Zurich Classic team event?

“I haven’t totally decided what I will say,” said Scheffler, who has the honor of hosting the dinner as the defending champion, during a media call Wednesday ahead of the Masters, which begins on April 6. “I’m aware I have to say a few words, but, for the most part, it’s kind of a group thing. I’m not quite sure what the vibe will be like, but I think we are all there to play in the tournament and celebrate the Masters and celebrate all being past champions.

“I think the dinner will be really special for all us to be able to gather again and I am sure we will put all that other stuff aside and have a good time together. Just because guys joined another tour doesn’t mean I’m not friends with them anymore and think differently of them as people. They are still my friends and we are all just gonna hang out and have a good time.”

There’s a good chance it will be awkward between Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who had emerged as ‘frenemies’ in recent years and now find themselves on opposite ends of the LIV-PGA Tour kerfuffle, and extra chilly with Garcia, who didn’t hide his feelings about the PGA Tour and DP World Tour on his way out the door.

“We as a whole need to honor Scottie, Scottie’s the winner, it’s his dinner,” Tiger Woods said last month. “So making sure that Scottie gets honored correctly but also realizing the nature of what has transpired and the people that have left, just where our situations are either legally, emotionally, there’s a lot there.”

Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champ, echoed Tiger, saying cooler heads should prevail and the dinner will be a celebration of its champion.

“I’ve had a couple of conversations with the powers that be,” he said. “We all look through the lens of what that evening is established to be and what it forever is going to be and the mere fact that we are honoring another man. That’s going to be my outlook and how I’m going to approach it. Bottom line, that guy played really good last year and deserves a celebration and all of us to be there and let him buy me dinner.”

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The Masters dinner menu from Scottie Scheffler is an elite spin on a backyard cookout

The reigning champion delivers with some cookout classics

Give a ton of credit to Scottie Scheffler for how he planned his Masters Champions dinner menu.

After Hideki Matsuyama put together one of the most flavorful and gourmet dinners in tournament history last year, the reigning champion is taking things back to basics, albeit in a seriously elevated way.

And, wow, is it as mouthwatering as any of the dinners at Augusta. In a menu officially announced on Wednesday —nearly three weeks before the tournament begins — Scheffler decided to serve sliders, shrimp and steak (or fish) with warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

But even that description undersells things a bit.

The first — and maybe only — question here for Scheffler is just what it means exactly to serve sliders “Scottie” style. Other than that it’s hard to find any errors on this course listing.

Firecracker shrimp? Yum.

Tortilla soup? Sold.

Texas Ribeye with mac and cheese, creamed corn, fried brussels sprouts and fries? Everyone at this dinner is going to need a good, long nap afterwards in the best way possible.

It sounds like the type of meal you have at a cookout on Masters Sunday while watching the best golfers in the world sprint to the finish line.

The delicious tradition (one of roughly five billion at Augusta) for a Masters champions-only dinner goes back to Ben Hogan in 1952 and seems to get better each year. Hopefully the play on the course is as good as the meal served in honor of the winner before everyone tees off.

Scheffler is looking to become the first Masters champion to repeat since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. He would become the 18th different player to win multiple green jackets if he’s able to pull it off, joining a club who last saw Bubba Watson welcomed into the ranks with his second title in 2014.

After reclaiming the title of No. 1 golfer in the world with an impressive win at the Players Championship, there’s no reason to believe Scheffler won’t remain a massive favorite to repeat when he returns to Augusta.

What’s the potential for awkwardness with LIV defectors at the Masters Champions dinner? Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler weigh in

“I know that some of our friendships have certainly taken a different path, but we’ll see when all that transpires.” — Tiger Woods

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – It’s safe to say there will be a different vibe this year at the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night at the Masters. Tiger Woods conceded as much.

The annual gathering of the past champions for a meal of the defending champ’s choosing could be, in a word, awkward with LIV defectors Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson among several green-jacket holders that have departed the PGA Tour for the upstart league.

On Tuesday, during his pre-tournament press conference ahead of the Genesis Invitational, Woods addressed the elephant at the dinner, which will be hosted by Scottie Scheffler.

“I don’t know, I don’t know what that reaction’s going to be,” Woods said. “I know that some of our friendships have certainly taken a different path, but we’ll see when all that transpires. That is still a couple months away.”

Woods continued: “The Champions Dinner is going to be obviously something that’s talked about. We as a whole need to honor Scottie, Scottie’s the winner, it’s his dinner. So making sure that Scottie gets honored correctly but also realizing the nature of what has transpired and the people that have left, just where our situations are either legally, emotionally, there’s a lot there.”

Masters Tournament 2020
2019 Masters champion Tiger Woods presents Dustin Johnson with the green jacket after winning the 20202 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Indeed, there is. Last month Jon Rahm said, “I think the Masters Champions Dinner’s going to be a little tense compared to how it’s been in the past.”

Scheffler, for one, said he hasn’t given the dinner much thought – and for the thousandth time said he hasn’t determined the menu for the feast yet. Last month, he joked that Bubba Watson, his former partner at the Zurich Classic team event, would have to sit at a “separate table.”

“Yeah. I haven’t seen many of the LIV guys,” Scheffler said. “I saw Bubba on vacation this year, and I told him that I was just going to have a separate table for him in the corner by himself, only kidding, obviously.”

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On Tuesday, he was more diplomatic about the dinner.

“I haven’t looked that far ahead. I definitely, I don’t know exactly what you’re supposed to say that night. I haven’t really gotten too much info. I’ve got to talk to a few of the guys and figure out what actually goes on that night because I’m still kind of clueless,” he said. “I’m hoping that it will be a fun night. Gathering all those guys together in a room, I mean, it should be a lot of fun. It’s an historic group of people, Masters champions and I’m sure that week all put our personal opinions aside and just have a good night and just kind of enjoy what the night really is.”

The Champions Dinner will be held at Augusta National on Tuesday, April 4.

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Scottie Scheffler dishes on playing with Emmitt Smith, possibly returning to No. 1 at 2023 WM Phoenix Open and his Masters Champions Dinner menu

How close is Scheffler to revealing his Masters Champions Dinner menu?

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A year ago, Scottie Scheffler was at or near the top of the list of the best PGA Tour golfers to have never won.

A thrilling playoff win over Patrick Cantlay at TPC Scottsdale in 2022 finally got Scheffler on the board but it was just the beginning.

Scheffler went to win three more times, culminating in the Masters, which elevated him to the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.

He returns to defend his maiden Tour win at the WM Phoenix Open but seems pretty much like the same guy.

“I don’t really feel much different than I did sitting here last year,” he said Wednesday. “As far as playing, I’m just always trying to get a little bit better, and the golf stuff for me doesn’t change too much. I’m just showing up and trying to do my best.”

Scheffler, whose family moved to Dallas when he was 8, grew up a fan of that team with the star on its helmet.

“I typically will never miss a Cowboys game,” he said, acknowledging that if he’s in contention on a given Sunday he isn’t watching. He also talked about playing his Wednesday pro-am round with a Cowboys legend.

2023 WM Phoenix Open
Scottie Scheffler and Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith walk down the 18th hole during the Annexus Pro-Am ahead of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic)

“I got to play with Emmitt Smith today, which was a lot of fun, and I’d never met him before, so that was really cool, just kind of pick his brain on some stuff. … just little random stuff. You can tell he’s still very, very competitive. When he comes out here to play golf, he’s trying to learn, he’s trying to do his best on every shot. It’s kind of fun just getting a little peek into his mind.”

Scheffler was No. 1 for 29 weeks in 2022 and is currently No. 2. He has a chance this week to return to the top spot.

“I like being No. 1 in the world. I don’t like being No. 2. It’s just kind of one of those funny things. Right now I’m ranked No. 2, but I would say I’m not playing the second best golf in the world. I think Rory [McIlroy] and Jon [Rahm] are pretty much neck-and-neck for playing the best golf in the world right now,” he said. “But I don’t like being No. 2. I’d rather be No. 1.”

Scheffler earned $1,476,000 a year ago. Now that the WMPO is a designated event with a $20 million purse, capturing a repeat would put $3,600,000 in his bank account. That would also mean Scheffler beat a stout field.

He’ll be aiming to defend his Masters title in two months and with the clock ticking, he was asked if has settled on the menu yet for the Masters dinner

“Not quite. We’ve got some ideas. I’m excited about it. Hopefully the guys will like it, too. I’m a little bit weird about my food. I don’t really branch out too much. We’ll see what they think.”

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