Inside Ben Hogan’s Original Letter That Led to the First Champions Dinner at the Masters
Historic archival images of Golf Ben Hogan at the 1948 USGA Open Championship Hogan won 9 major championships during his career: 4 U.S. Opens 2 Masters Tournaments 2 PGA, Golf Herren Championships 1 Open Championship British Open Known for his legendary comeback after a near-fatal car accident in 1949, which many thought would end his career. Instead, he returned to win multiple majors afterward. Famous for his meticulous practice routine and innovations in golf swing mechanics. Hogans influence is still felt today through his instructional books and the Hogan swing, which many pros study. Copyright: xMarkxNewcombex
Historic archival images of Golf Ben Hogan at the 1948 USGA Open Championship Hogan won 9 major championships during his career: 4 U.S. Opens 2 Masters Tournaments 2 PGA, Golf Herren Championships 1 Open Championship British Open Known for his legendary comeback after a near-fatal car accident in 1949, which many thought would end his career. Instead, he returned to win multiple majors afterward. Famous for his meticulous practice routine and innovations in golf swing mechanics. Hogans influence is still felt today through his instructional books and the Hogan swing, which many pros study. Copyright: xMarkxNewcombex
The now-famous Champions Dinner at the Masters started with a simple letter from Ben Hogan. 74 years ago, Hogan sent a formal letter to Clifford Roberts proposing a private dinner at Augusta.
In the March 31, 1952 letter, Hogan invited past champions, along with Roberts and Bobby Jones, to gather on the Friday evening before the tournament.
“I wish to invite you to attend a stag dinner at the Augusta National on Friday evening, April 4th, at 7:15 P.M. It's my wish to invite all the Masters Champions who are going to be here, plus Bob Jones and Cliff Roberts. My only stipulation is that you wear your green coat,” Ben Hogan wrote in his letter.
Unlike the current format, where the defending champion decides the menu, there is no confirmed record of what was served at the first dinner in 1952. The idea of a host choosing a specific menu came later and became consistent starting in 1986, with Bernhard Langer.
The very first Champions Dinner at the Masters and how it all began on March 31, 1952 thanks to Ben Hogan - pic.twitter.com/AYmuSy84od
— TheGolfDivoTee™ (@TheGolfDivoTee) April 5, 2026
Ben Hogan also shaped how the dinner operates. The defending champion covers the cost of the evening. Each new winner is also given a gold locket designed with the Augusta National Golf Club emblem.
Hogan oversaw the first few dinners before handing them over to Byron Nelson in 1956. Since 2005, that responsibility has been carried by Ben Crenshaw.
How Ben Hogan left a lasting legacy at the Augusta National
The two-time Masters winner's role at Augusta National Golf Club also included changes to the course itself.
One such example came in 1957, when Ben Hogan suggested adding a bunker to the right side of the 15th green. The change was aimed at limiting a safe miss for players attempting to reach the par-5 in two shots.
In 1953, during his second win, Ben Hogan totalled 274 and set a new tournament benchmark. It remained in place until Jack Nicklaus surpassed it in 1965. Over the course of his appearances, he finished in the top 10 on 17 occasions.
Ben Hogan also shares the record for most runner-up finishes with Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. In his final appearance in 1967, he recorded a third-round 66, which included a back-nine 30 that remains tied for the lowest nine-hole score in the tournament.
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Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi