Winning the Masters Tournament is a dream for every professional golfer. Not only do they receive a prestigious green jacket and an exquisitely engraved trophy, but they also gain a lifetime invitation to one of the most esteemed events in the golfing world.
But the perks don’t stop there. The champion also has the honor of planning a dinner for fellow Masters winners the following spring, with the responsibility of picking a menu that suits the occasion. This exclusive evening brings together past champions in a unique setting, as Scottie Scheffler described, “There’s nobody else, there’s the chairman and then there’s us.”
The Champions Dinner at the Masters is a tradition where the new champion gets to showcase their culinary tastes. Over the years, champions have served a variety of dishes, from cheeseburgers and milkshakes to sushi and haggis.
The most recent champion, Jon Rahm, crafted a menu that pays tribute to his Spanish roots. With the help of chef José Andrés, Rahm created a menu featuring classic lentil stew from his grandmother, Basque crab salad, rib-eye steak or turbot, and a dessert inspired by his wedding cake.
Rahm shared, “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.”
The evolution of the Champions Dinner reflects the changing tastes and backgrounds of professional golfers. From basic steak dinners to elaborate multi-course meals, the dinner has become a highlight of the Masters Tournament.
Scheffler, the most recent champion before Rahm, curated a menu that reflected his favorite foods and disregarded any dietary restrictions. With dishes like cheeseburger sliders, firecracker shrimp, and Texas rib-eye steaks, Scheffler’s menu was a hit among the guests.
In the end, the Champions Dinner is about celebrating the champion’s victory and creating a memorable experience for all attendees. As Scheffler put it, “Everyone enjoyed the food.”
