Tag: Masters Champions Dinner

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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Scottie Scheffler saw Bubba Watson on vacation and couldn’t help but make a joke about the Masters Champions Dinner and LIV Golf

The defending Masters champ is also starting to plan out his dinner menu.

After a holiday hiatus, the PGA Tour is back this week in Hawaii and the boys brought some jokes to the island.

On Tuesday ahead of the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions, Jon Rahm made a crack about how tense the Masters Champions Dinner will be due to the presence of a handful of players who made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion at Augusta National, joined in on the fun during his Wednesday presser at Kapalua with a story about seeing two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson while on vacation in Tennessee last year.

“I haven’t seen many of the LIV guys. I saw (Bubba Watson) on vacation this year and I told him that I was just gonna have a separate table for him in the corner by himself,” Scheffler said with a big laugh.

His menu is still being workshopped for the annual gathering that could include up to six LIV players this spring: Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Phil Mickelson.

Scheffler thinks the players will be able to put their animosity aside for a few weeks out of the year, especially at a place as steeped in history as Augusta National.

“I think that stuff just takes time, things will heal and we’ll see what happens,” Scheffler continued, noting how golf will inevitably move on. “All that stuff is not really for me. I can only show up and just try and play good golf. I’m not going to LIV anytime soon, so it’s not a concern for me at the moment.”

The Texan returns to PGA Tour action this week with his fourth start of the 2022-23 season. Scheffler logged two top-10 finishes in his three fall starts at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba (T-3) and Cadence Bank Houston Open (T-9). He also earned a runner-up finish at Tiger Woods’ unofficial event in the Bahamas, the Hero World Challenge.

Last year Scheffler earned all four of his PGA Tour titles over six starts from the WM Phoenix Open in February to the Masters in April. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in between and finished inside the top 25 in 16 of 20 starts in 2022, including a trio of runner-up finishes at the Charles Schwab Challenge, U.S. Open and Tour Championship. Scheffler rose to No. 1 in the world and held the title for 30 weeks from March 27-Oct. 22. His $14,046,910 in official prize money set a single season PGA Tour record and he totaled more than $24,796,910 in earnings including bonuses.

Despite his successful season, Scheffler noted how his quick ascension didn’t quite earn him the respect that comes with the title of world’s best compared to other players who reached No. 1. That said, he never felt like he had to live up to it, either.

“Successful weeks for me look a little bit different. If I can show up and I have a great attitude and I’m committed to my shots and playing golf the right way, that’s a good week for me. Getting caught up in the noise of who the best player is isn’t going to help me be successful and approach things the right way.”

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Gary Player welcomed Hideki Matsuyama to Masters Club in Japanese and more from Tuesday’s Champions Dinner

“Hell, his English was better than half the people at my house after 10 o’clock,” said 1979 winner Fuzzy Zoeller.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Hideki Matsuyama was welcomed into the Masters Club on Tuesday in appropriate fashion: with a saké toast.

“I told Hideki, ‘You’re one of us now.’” said Ben Crenshaw, who’s hosted the dinner since 2005. “A lot of us had seen this coming for a long time.”

Moments before the dinner, Gary Player made a point to find Crenshaw.  The 1984 and 1995 Masters champion is tasked with welcoming the newest member of the Masters Club, but Player requested to share the role.

“Gary Player came over and asked, ‘May I say something to Hideki in Japanese?’” Crenshaw said. “Gary was our first international champion, and he gave a minute and a half speech in Japanese, where he welcomed Hideki as an international member.”

Player told the table that he had been to Japan 31 times, and learned the language throughout the years.

“My jaw hit the floor when Gary started speaking,” 1971 winner Charles Coody said. “And you could tell he spoke it well, too, because Hideki kept nodding with respect.”

As Player finished, Matsuyama rose from his seat and gave a speech in English. He began by apologizing for his broken English and then spoke of his appreciation to join the group.

“Hideki apologized to us, but he did a great job,” 1979 winner Fuzzy Zoeller said. “Hell, his English was better than half the people at my house after 10 o’clock.”

Matsuyama served the table a Japanese-inspired menu, which featured assorted sushi and sashimi.

The main course was a wagyu beef ribeye steak served with mushrooms and vegetables.

“I don’t eat anything that’s not totally dead,” said Coody, who declined the sushi but ordered the wagyu steak. “If it’s still moving, I’ll shoot it.”

Tuesday’s dinner marked the first meeting since the January death of 1968 champ Bob Goalby. Also missing were Phil Mickelson and 1956 winner Jackie Burke.

Crenshaw noted that he will attempt to convince Burke, who’s 99 years old, to appear next April for his 100th birthday.

“Man, wouldn’t that be something?” Crenshaw said of his fellow Texan. “I’m going to do what I can to get Jackie here.”

Champions react to Hideki’s dinner

Sir Nick Faldo

Fred Couples

Sergio Garcia

Trevor Immelman

Vijay Singh

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Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama tees up flavors from the Land of the Rising Sun for Champions Dinner

Hideki Matsuyama labored over his menu before recently finalizing the servings.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The first Masters champion from Japan will serve up flavors of his home country tonight at the Champions Dinner.

Hideki Matsuyama, who won the 2021 Masters by one stroke over Will Zalatoris, labored over his menu before recently finalizing the servings.

His distinguished guests will start out with assorted appetizers – various sushi, Sashimi and Nigiri, as well as Yakitori Chicken Skewers.

The first course is Miso glazed black cod.

The main course is Miyazaki Wagyu – A5 Wagyu Beef Ribeye with mixed mushrooms and vegetables, and Sansho Daikon Ponzu.

Dessert is fluffy sponge cake with whipped cream and Amaou strawberries.

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‘I’ve been receiving a lot of treatment’: Hideki Matsuyama on right track to be back to defend Masters title

“Going to the Masters is something very special for me and something I’ve really been looking forward to.”

Hideki Matsuyama said he’s on the right track to be ready to defend his title in the Masters just over two weeks from now.

Matsuyama withdrew from The Players Championship less than 10 days ago with neck and shoulder injuries he suffered during the second round of the previous week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

He decided against playing in this week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. He might play in next week’s Valero Texas Open.

“I’ve been receiving a lot of treatment,” Matsuyama said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters. “Really (Monday) was the first day that I’ve been able to have a good practice session. So the remainder of this week and next week, I’ll do my best to prepare well so I can defend my title at Augusta.

“My recovery is moving forward. Probably at 80 percent right now. Planning to practice hard this week and I’m intending to play in the Valero Texas Open as long as the pain keeps subsiding.

“I haven’t been able to practice as much as I’d like, but what I have been doing, I feel like I’m on the right track.”

Last year, Matsuyama shot 69-71-65-73 to win by one over Will Zalatoris and by three over 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele. It was his first major title and he became the first from Japan to win the Masters.

Hideki Matsuyama
Dustin Johnson presents Hideki Matsuyama with the green jacket after winning the 2021 Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Matsuyama, 30, who has won eight PGA Tour titles and is ranked No. 12 in the world, was moved to tears as he walked up the hill from the 18th green to the clubhouse last Masters Sunday. The enormous weight of expectation and pressure to win for himself and a proud sporting nation had been lifted.

“Those tears, it wasn’t because I won. Walking up after the 18th green, I saw all my team, and they were all crying, and I think that’s probably what started me crying, too,” Matsuyama said. “But it was really cool to be able to share that with my team. The feeling of, we finally did it.

“That was the reason why those tears were falling down all of our cheeks.”

There have been many reasons to tear up ever since.

“It’s been a great blessing to become the Masters champion and to have so many people send me their best wishes and encouragement,” he said. “It’s been great to go to the various tournaments and to be introduced as the Masters champion and have the gallery warmly receive me and call my name.

“Being the first Japanese to win a major, and especially the Masters, has made me really happy. How it’s changed my life is a good question. I haven’t really figured that out yet. I know I’m a happier person. I’ve also noticed people have received me differently. It’s been a wonderful experience. If that’s changed my life, I don’t know. But that’s really the one impression that I’ve had this past year is how warm people have embraced me and received me and cheered me on.”

He hopes to hear the cheers this year at Augusta National. This season, he has won the Zozo Championship in Japan and the Sony Open in Hawaii. He also finished in a tie for eighth in the WM Phoenix Open. He did finish in a tie for 20th in the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his injuries.

Sony Open in Hawaii 2022
Hideki Matsuyama hoists the trophy during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

“Hopefully I can find that same form that I started the year out with,” Matsuyama said. “Going to the Masters is something very special for me and something I’ve really been looking forward to, so I’m going to do my very best to be as prepared as I can to defend my title there.”

And he’ll do his very best to prepare for the Champions Dinner.

“I don’t speak English very well, and so it’s kind of a two-sided coin,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, of course, to be with all those great past Masters champions, but at the same time, too, very nervous about the speech I will be giving.”

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Tiger Woods will miss Masters Champions Dinner, one of his ‘favorite nights of the year’

Tiger Woods took a fun jab at Dustin Johnson and announced he’ll miss this year’s Masters Champions Dinner.

Tiger Woods is missing one of his favorite nights of the year.

The 15-time major champion has become particularly fond of the Masters Champions Dinner at Augusta National Golf Club, having most recently hosted the annual Tuesday night gathering of the tournament’s winners last November.

Instead of making the trip down Magnolia Lane this week, the five-time Masters champ finds himself at home recovering from a February car crash near Los Angeles where he suffered multiple leg fractures.

He might be at home, but he’s at Augusta National in spirit. In fact, with this little jab at defending champion Dustin Johnson, he appears to be in good spirits, too.

Masters: Dustin Johnson’s Champions Dinner menu

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Masters: Champions Dinner features spicy flare at behest of host Tiger Woods

Sushi and fajitas were on the menu for the past winners at Augusta National, but you won’t believe what was served in 1989.

What exactly is in an Augusta Roll? Tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, avocado, eel sauce, tempura flakes and pickled ginger, of course. Throw in some wasabi and soy sauce, and the past winners in attendance at Tuesday’s Masters Club Dinner were surely in for a tasty evening.

Those Augusta Rolls were courtesy of 2019 champion Tiger Woods. As is custom for the event also known as the Champions Dinner, the previous year’s winner gets to set a special menu for the gathering of green-jacketed greats each year at Augusta National Golf Club.

Also on the menu were prime steak and chicken fajitas; a dessert trio with flan, churros and sopapillas; and two specially ordered wines from which to choose: a 2015 Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch chardonnay and a 2015 Shafer Hillside Select cabernet sauvignon, both from Napa Valley.

It’s worth noting, players who might be averse to sashimi – their loss! – also can order from the regular club menu. That helps in some years when the host chooses more unusual fare, such as when Sandy Lyle had the club offer haggis – a mix of what appears to anybody not from Scotland to be random animal parts and vegetables, traditionally served in a bag made from a sheep’s stomach – with mashed turnips in 1989.

This year’s special menu is also a sign of elevated taste from the 44-year-old Woods, who in 1998 – in the wake of his record-breaking Masters victory at the age of 21 – offered cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries and milkshakes.

But this is Augusta National, and you know those milkshakes had to be good.

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A look at some of the recent Masters Champions dinner menus

The Masters Club, better known as the Champions Dinner, is a tradition at Augusta National Golf Club that started in 1952.

The Masters Club, better known as the Champions Dinner, is a tradition at Augusta National Golf Club that started in 1952.

That’s when defending champion Ben Hogan decided to have a dinner for all of the tournament’s previous winners, and only previous winners, although club founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts were given honorary memberships.

Over the years, Bill Lane, Hord Hardin, Jack Stephens, Hootie Johnson, Billy Payne and Fred Ridley have also been extended honorary status to the dinner.

Per tradition, the defending champion selects the menu for the Tuesday night gathering.

According to the Masters, each past champion also receives an inscribed gold locket in the form of the Club emblem.

Prior to the postponement of the 2020 Masters, Tiger Woods revealed his plans. And who knows, maybe the past champs will gather in November for their annual feast. In fact, Woods had his own Champions Dinner with family on Tuesday.

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Tiger enjoys quarantine Masters Champions Dinner: ‘Nothing better than being with family’

Tiger Woods should be celebrating his incredible 2019 victory with his family and friends at the Champions Dinner, but he was in quarantine.

It should be Masters week, and Tiger Woods should be celebrating his incredible 2019 victory with his family and friends at the Champions Dinner.

Instead, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Woods and Co. were celebrating responsibly on Tuesday, as evidenced by a Tweet he sent out while hugging his kids, girlfriend and two dogs, all while donning his green jacket. Woods had said he planned to serve sushi and sashimi and steak and chicken fajitas, and was considering milkshakes, which was part of his offerings in 1998 after his first of five times selecting the menu. It’s unclear from the photo if he did just that, but it looks like the rest of the dishes made the cut.

The 2020 Masters has been postponed until November 12-15, when Woods will hopefully have a chance to defend his crown — and serve his meal on Nov. 10.

Tiger’s victory at the Masters in April, his 15th major and first since the 2008 U.S. Open, was named the 2019 Associated Press Sports Story of the Year.