The prestigious Masters Champions Dinner wasn't an Augusta National invention. In 1952, two-time Masters winner Ben Hogan invited past champions to a private dinner and suggested creating a club just for them. He called it the Masters Club.

Today, most people know it as the Champions Dinner. Either way, Hogan shaped it from the start, even setting the dress code himself. His note to Augusta co-founder Clifford Roberts made that clear.

"It's my wish to invite all the Masters champions who are going to be here, plus Bob Jones and Cliff Roberts," Hogan said. "My only stipulation is that you wear your green coat," he added.

The dinner happens every Tuesday during Masters week, and the defending champion chooses the menu. And that means Rory McIlroy chose this year's menu.

In the past, this practice has led to some memorable dinners. Sandy Lyle served haggis in 1989. Sergio Garcia chose Spanish lobster rice in 2018, and Tiger Woods has served everything from cheeseburgers to sushi over the years.

So what did Rory McIlroy choose?

McIlroy’s menu this year is inspired by his family, his travels, and the diet he says helped him win the Grand Slam.

One of the starters is his mother Rosie’s recipe, dates stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. There are also grilled elk sliders, which connect to the wild game diet he talked about on the Today Show after his win last April. A yellowfin tuna carpaccio from Le Bernardin, his favorite restaurant in New York City, is also included in the starters.

Sticky toffee pudding finishes the meal. “Very much a crowd pleaser,” McIlroy said about the classic British Isles dessert.

McIlroy goes into his title defense this week chasing history. Only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods have successfully defended the Green Jacket. But before any of that, the dinner comes first.

What do you think of Rory McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner menu? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi