On the eve of the Masters Tournament – the usual procedure would always include the ‘Champions Dinner’ where the winner from the previous year hosts a dinner party with a menu of their choosing for all the past Green Jacket owners in attendance to enjoy. The tradition was started in 1952 by Ben Hogan, who initially invited Augusta National founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, it was then formalised into what it has become today.
We have picked out some of the best meals over the years, with players showcasing some of their own cultural dishes, from Haggis, fish and chips and South African Sausages.
In 1989 Sandy Lyle introduced a traditional Scottish dish meal that included Haggis, mashed turnips and mashed potatoes. Haggis is a minced dish made with sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, mixed with minced onions, spices and oatmeal and then encased in the sheep’s stomach.
Nick Faldo brought a famous dish to the dinner party in 1997, one that originated in England in the 1860’s – fish and chips, with some tomato soup for starters.
A young 22-year-old champion wasn’t scared to show his age to his fellow past winners at the 1998 dinner party as Tiger Woods served up some cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and French fries, which were washed down with milkshakes. Fast forward 22-years, the 2019 Champion is still a huge milkshake fan, with his 2020 menu being; Steak and chicken fajitas, sushi and sashimi and milkshakes. However, with this year’s Masters being postponed, Tiger had shared a picture having a Champions Dinner at home in Jupiter with his family and said: “Champions Dinner quarantine style. Nothing better than being with family.” All of the family were supporting Masters colors – of course Tiger had pulled out the iconic green jacket with his Sunday red underneath.
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Masters Champions Dinner quarantine style. Nothing better than being with family.
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel stuck to his home town cuisine in 2012, with shrimp, lobster, crabmeat, crab legs and oysters for starter. The main course was a “braai,” a South African barbecue, which included lamb chops, steaks and South African sausages as well as salads, cheeses, and sides such as sautéed sweet corn, green beans, and Dauphinoise potatoes. Finishing up with a dessert of vanilla ice cream sundae.
The most recent British champion, Danny Willett, also chose a meal close to home in 2017. Willett’s menu started with mini cottage pies and was followed by a traditional “Sunday roast” which included ribs, roasted potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. For dessert, apple crumble and vanilla custard with a coffee for the road.
Two-time Champion Bubba Watson must have had some good feedback from his first feast in 2013. The Ryder Cup star and part-time social media comedian repeated his order in 2015, and this is what was on the menu; Traditional Caesar salad to start. Grilled chicken breast with sides of green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, macaroni cheese, served with cornbread for main course. Lastly he offered a confetti cake and vanilla ice cream dessert.
A few different dishes to say the least. Winning the green jacket allows you to be part of the game’s most exclusive society – the Masters Club. The Club gets together on one occasional of the year, the Tuesday night of Masters week. Although there’s no assigned seating at the dinner, there is a generally understood hierarchy and the head of the table includes the chairman and the defending champion.
