Winning the Green Jacket becomes the highlight of a player’s career. It’s not just the title but the endless privileges that come with it. Rory McIlroy found himself to be the bearer of all those privileges as he entered Augusta National this year to defend his title.

Let’s take a look at the special treatment McIlroy received last week.

As McIlroy set foot on Augusta National, a Champion's welcome awaited him. He got access to the exclusive Champions-only parking lot after driving down Magnolia Lane. 

After entering the clubhouse, McIlroy got access to one of the most renowned and extravagant rooms in golf - the Champions locker room. He got his own locker as well.

Every locker has a plate mentioning the player’s name and the year of their Masters victory. McIlroy shared his locker with two-time Masters champion Ben Hogan and the 1976 Green Jacket winner, Raymond Floyd.

Becoming an honorary member, the most special privilege for McIlroy was to host the champions dinner. As the reigning champion, he got to choose the dinner menu and was presented a gold locket by two-time winner Ben Crenshaw. 

“It’s a pendant that is supposed to go to your wife," Crenshaw once said.

On top of all this, McIlroy got a comparatively silent and calm place to practice before the tournament began. He got an entry into the Champions-only range. Away from the crowds, the range made sure McIlroy’s focus on winning back-to-back titles wasn’t disrupted. 

Moreover, McIlroy got a lifetime exemption into the Masters tournament and a five-year exemption into the other majors, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.

A lot of privileges, but let's find out how McIlroy dealt with his new duties as a champion.

How Rory McIlroy went on with his privileges this year

Being the host of the Champions Dinner this year, McIlroy really went all out. His dinner ranked second on the list of costliest dinners, second only to 2021 Champion Hideki Matsuyama in the per-plate cost. 

“I’ll just be incredibly grateful that I’m a part of it,” McIlroy told reporters on the weekend before the dinner. 

“I want to share that with everyone in the room. It is the most exclusive dinner club in all of sport, and I think we should all feel very fortunate that we are there,” he added.

Grilled elk sliders, yellowfin tuna carpaccio, and wagyu filet mignon were some of the expensive items.

On the Sunday before the tournament, Masters champions are allowed to bring a guest to join them on the course. McIlroy took this opportunity and brought his father, Gerry, for a special Sunday tee time.

How do you feel about these privileges? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Utsav Gupta