Rory McIlroy, the defending Masters champion from Northern Ireland, has curated the menu for the 2026 Champions Dinner, which was revealed by the tournament's social media accounts on Wednesday.[1]
The annual dinner, a tradition since 1952, is held exclusively for past Masters winners and takes place on the Tuesday evening before the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.[2] For 2026, it is scheduled for April 7 ahead of the first round on April 9.[3]
McIlroy won the 2025 Masters title on April 13 in a playoff, completing the career Grand Slam and becoming the sixth male golfer to achieve the feat, following Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.[1][4]
The menu features four appetizers, a first course, choice of main courses, sides, dessert and four wine pairings. Appetizers include rock shrimp tempura, peach and ricotta flatbread, bacon-wrapped dates and grilled elk sliders with caramelized onion jam and roasted garlic aioli.[1]
| Course | Selections |
|---|---|
| First course | Yellowfin tuna carpaccio |
| Main courses | Wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon |
| Sides | Irish champ potatoes, Brussels sprouts, crispy Vidalia onion rings |
| Dessert | Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream and warm toffee sauce |
McIlroy drew inspiration for the tuna carpaccio from Le Bernardin restaurant in New York City, a favorite of his and his wife, he told the Irish Independent. He said the bacon-wrapped dates reflect a dish his mother prepares, stuffed with goat cheese.[5] The elk sliders incorporate elk meat, which McIlroy receives in large shipments but chose not to feature as the main course.[1]
The Irish champ potatoes evoke his childhood, while Vidalia onions nod to Georgia produce. Wines selected from Augusta National's cellar include a 2022 Domaine Leflaive, with bottles exceeding $2,000, and a 1990 Château Lafite Rothschild averaging over $1,200 per bottle.[1][6]
McIlroy, who turned professional in 2007 and previously won the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2014 PGA Championship, will defend his title at the 2026 Masters, the first major of the season, from April 9-12.[2][4]
Sources
- Fox News Digital
Rory McIlroy is taking full advantage of his first opportunity to curate one of pro golf’s most revered traditions at the Masters
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.foxnews.com/sports - The Masters
Traditions: Champions Dinner
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.masters.com/en_US/tournament/traditions/champions_dinner.html - The Masters
2026 Tournament Information
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.masters.com/en_US/tournament/tournament_info.html - Wikipedia
Career Grand Slam (men's golf)
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career_Grand_Slam_(men%27s_golf) - Irish Independent
Sport - Golf
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/ - Wine-Searcher
Find and price wines
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.wine-searcher.com
