The Masters might be the most recent addition to the roster of men’s Majors but that doesn’t mean it isn’t steeped in tradition.
In fact, it’s likely the showdown at Augusta National has more quirks than the other three showpiece events combined.
One of the more mainstream pre-tournament shindigs is the Champions Dinner. First arranged by Ben Hogan in 1952, past champions sit down for a feast on the Tuesday of tournament week, with the menu selected and paid for by the previous year’s victor.
It always captures the attention of golf fans in the build-up to the beginning of the men’s Major season, so we have run through a host of the more memorable menus that have been served inside the illustrious venue.
Masters Champions Dinner history
As mentioned, the tradition began in the early 1950s and was the brainchild of ‘The Hawk’.
“Better known as the ‘Champions Dinner’, the Masters Club began during the 1952 Tournament, when defending champion Ben Hogan organized a dinner for all previous winners,” an official Masters document reads.
“At that time, he proposed the formation of the Masters Club with its membership limited to Masters champions.
“Honorary memberships were also extended to Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. Bill Lane, Hord Hardin, Jack Stephens, Hootie Johnson, Billy Payne and Fred Ridley have subsequently been added as honorary members.
“Each year, the defending champion selects the menu and acts as host for the Tuesday night dinner. As his certificate of membership in the Masters Club, he receives an inscribed gold locket in the form of the Club emblem.”
It has now become part of the fabric of the event and often features iconic dishes native to the country of the reigning champion.
Jon Rahm captured his first Green Jacket after taking down Brooks Koepka 12 months ago and unveiled his Spanish-themed menu last month.
In 2023, Scottie Scheffler’s had a more American flavor to it, starting with cheeseburger sliders “Scottie style” and finishing with a warm chocolate chip cookie.
Hideki Matsuyama, Japan’s first Masters champion in 2021, also stuck to his culinary roots.
There have been plenty of eye-catching choices over the years, but perhaps none more so than Bubba Watson’s. The 2012 and 2014 champion decided to wheel out exactly the same menu…
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