Unveiling the Masters Dinner: Menu, Guests, and the Defending Champion's Privileges

Rory McIlroy's long-awaited major victory has earned him a seat at the head of the exclusive Masters Club dinner table, where he will host a gathering of past champions. This annual tradition, also known as the Champions Dinner, has been a staple of the Masters tournament since 1952, when Ben Hogan first invited fellow winners to dine together. As the reigning champion, McIlroy has the privilege of setting the menu and drinks list for the evening, which takes place on the Tuesday of Masters week. McIlroy's menu features a range of dishes, including bacon-wrapped dates inspired by his mother's recipe and yellowfin tuna carpaccio, a favorite of his and his wife Erica's. The wine list includes the 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, which McIlroy drank on the night of his Masters win. The cost of hosting the meal falls to the defending champion, with the average price of McIlroy's wine choices exceeding $1,000 per bottle. The Champions Dinner is a unique and exclusive event, with only past Masters winners and the current chairman in attendance. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be absent from this year's dinner, but McIlroy plans to acknowledge their contributions to the tournament. The evening promises to be a special one, with McIlroy eager to share his experience with fellow champions and create lasting memories.