The Masters Champions Dinners – History and Menus

As the founder of Stripey Green TV, I’ve always been fascinated by the traditions that make golf more than just a game – and few are as intriguing (or mouthwatering) as the Masters Champions Dinner or as it is also known the Masters Club Dinner. Prize money aside, this and the famous Green Jacket, has to be one of the highlights of becoming a Masters champion!

Each year at Augusta National, past winners gather for a private evening that’s steeped in history, respect, and a healthy dose of culinary curiosity. What started in 1952 with Ben Hogan’s simple idea, has grown into a much-anticipated ritual where the defending champion sets the menu – and tells a story through food. From bold cultural statements to comfort food classics, the Champions Dinner offers a unique glimpse into the personalities behind the green jackets.

In this article, I’ll dive into how it all began and explore some of the most memorable – and surprising – menus chosen over the years.

The Masters Champions Dinner – A Tradition Unlike Any Other

I’ve always believed that golf is more than a sport – it’s a culture, steeped in tradition, rich with stories, and full of personality. Few traditions capture that spirit quite like the Masters Champions Dinner, an annual ritual held at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club that brings together legends of the game for a meal that’s as symbolic as it is savory.

The Origins of the Champions Dinner

The tradition began in 1952, just under two decades after the first Masters Tournament was played. It was Ben Hogan, ever the gentleman and tactician, who suggested the idea. His vision was simple: a dinner where past champions could gather, share stories, and enjoy a moment of brotherhood before the competition began.

Augusta National embraced the concept, and the tradition was born. Since then, every Tuesday of Masters week, the defending champion hosts a dinner in the exclusive Champions Locker Room, attended only by past Masters winners and a few select guests.

The defending champion selects the menu which is usually prepared by Augusta National’s in-house chefs, and also pays the bill!

None of the guests are forced to eat the defending champions menu. The Augusta National in-house chefs also prepare a selection of other meals and offer the standard menu should anyone wish to deviate from the champion’s selections.

More Than Just a Meal

What makes the Champions Dinner truly fascinating is that the defending champion chooses the menu – a chance to serve a meal that reflects their roots, personality, or just their favourite comfort foods. It’s an unusual combination of formality and flair. You might see fine steak one year and cheeseburgers the next. It’s golf’s most prestigious potluck, and each dish tells a story.

Over the years, menus have become a talking point for fans and a badge of honour for champions. Some opt for gourmet meals, while others lean into nostalgia or national pride. But whatever ends up on the plate, the moment itself is what matters most: legends of the game breaking bread, sharing memories, and quietly celebrating what it means to be part of golf’s most exclusive club.

Prior to the meal, the dinner guests gather for cocktails and appetizers in the Masters Club Room. This is the locker room and lounge only available to previous Masters tournament winners. At 7:30pm the guests assemble for the traditional group photo such as this one below from Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 dinner.

The main dinner is served next door to the Champions locker room, in the library.

Each year, before the food is served, the defending champion is presented with an inscribed gold locket which signifies his entry into the “Master Club”. He is then offered the chance to say a few words. The main event then ensues and the evening usually wraps around 10pm.

Tiger Woods: A Defining Presence

You can’t talk about the Champions Dinner without mentioning Tiger Woods. A five-time Masters champion and one of the sport’s most transformative figures, Tiger has left his mark on Augusta in every way imaginable – and that includes the dinner table.

In 1998, after winning his first Masters the year before, Tiger made headlines for choosing a menu that was unmistakably him: cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes. It was youthful, unpretentious, and completely in line with who he was at the time – a 21-year-old phenom changing the face of golf.

In the years since, his menus have evolved just as his game and legacy have. In 2020, after his unforgettable 2019 victory, Tiger went for a menu of Augusta roll (a sushi favourite), steak and chicken fajitas, and of course, that signature dessert – churros with chocolate sauce. His choices reflect a global taste and a confident maturity, but still with that signature Tiger touch.

Other Memorable Champions Dinner Menus

🍣 Hideki Matsuyama (2022) — Sushi, Sashimi, and Miso Glazed Black Cod

Matsuyama brought a full Japanese fine-dining experience to Augusta, including sushi and delicate seafood, which was a stark contrast to the typical steak-and-potatoes fare. His menu was celebrated for its elegance and authenticity, and it opened the door for more culturally representative meals at the Champions Dinner.

🌶️ Sergio Garcia (2018) — Arroz Caldoso with Lobster

Instead of a multi-course menu, Garcia focused on a single Spanish rice dish, similar to paella but soupier. It was a bold move that deviated from the expected format, showcasing a confident and culturally anchored choice from the Spanish champion.

🇩🇪 Bernhard Langer (1994) – Wiener Schnitzel

Langer’s menu was surprising in its faithfulness to his cultural roots—he didn’t Americanize it, nor did he opt for steakhouse standards. It was a bold yet elegant move that brought continental European flavors to the Champions Dinner table, at a time when many players stuck to more conventional offerings.

His dinner was praised for its authenticity and marked one of the earlier instances of a champion using the occasion to showcase national cuisine, a trend that would become more popular in years to follow.

Champions Dinner Menus Year by Year

Read more information about each of the Champions Dinners from years gone by.

• 2025 – Scottie Scheffler – Cowboy Ribeye or Blackened Redfish – Full Menu & details of the night
• 2024 – Jon Rahm – Ribeye/Turbot – Full Menu & details of the night
• 2023 – Scottie Scheffler – Cowboy Ribeye or Blackened Redfish
• 2022 – Hideki Matsuyama – Wagyu Beef Ribeye
• 2021 – Dustin Johnson – Fillet Mignon & Mash or Miso Marinated Sea Bass* Due to the 2020 Masters taking place in November, Johnson only had 5 months to plan his Champions Dinner!
• 2020 – Tiger Woods – Prime Steak & Chicken Fajitas
• 2019 – Patrick Reed – Prime Bone-In Cowboy Ribeye
• 2018 – Sergio García – Traditional Spanish Lobster Rice
• 2017 – Danny Willett – Sunday Roast of Prime Rib, all the trimmings including Yorkshire Puddings!
• 2016 – Jordan Spieth – Texas BBQ (beef brisket, smoked half chicken, pork ribs)
• 2015 – Bubba Watson – Grilled chicken
• 2014 – Adam Scott – Surf-and-turf – Wagyu beef New York Strip steak & Moreton lobster
• 2013 – Bubba Watson – Grilled Chicken
• 2012 – Charl Schwartzel – Braai – South African BBQ including lamb chops, steaks, and sausages
• 2011 – Phil Mickelson – Prime beef tenderloin topped with Manchego cheese
• 2010 – Ángel Cabrera – Multicourse Argentine BBQ including chorizo, short ribs & beef fillets
• 2009 – Trevor Immelman – Spiced minced meat pie and chicken skewers
• 2008 – Zach Johnson – Iowa beef & Florida shrimp
• 2007 – Phil Mickelson – BBQ ribs, chicken, sausage and pulled pork
• 2006 – Tiger Woods – Prime Steak & Chicken Fajitas
• 2005 – Phil Mickelson – Lobster ravioli
• 2004 – Mike Weir – Elk & Wild Boar or Arctic char (fish)
• 2003 – Tiger Woods – Prime Porterhouse Steak & Grilled Chicken Breast
• 2002 – Tiger Woods – Prime Porterhouse Steak & Grilled Chicken Breast
• 2001 – Vijay Singh – Chicken Panang Curry, Baked Sea Scallops, Rack of Lamb or Baked filet of Chilean Sea Bass
• 2000 – José María Olazábal – Beef fillet & thin cut french fries
• 1999 – Mark O’Meara – Chicken & Steak fajitas
• 1998 – Tiger Woods – Cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches
• 1997 – Nick Faldo – Fish & Chips
• 1996 – Ben Crenshaw – Beef brisket, St. Louis-style pork ribs, Hill Country sausage
• 1995 – José María Olazábal – Halibut in a Spanish green sauce or Roast rack of lamb
• 1994 – Bernhard Langer – Turkey and dressing
• 1993 – Fred Couples – Chicken cacciatore
• 1992 – Ian Woosnam – Leg of Welsh lamb
• 1991 – Nick Faldo – Steak and kidney pie
• 1990 – Nick Faldo – Shepherd’s pie
• 1989 – Sandy Lyle – Haggis with mashed potato and turnips
• 1988 – Larry Mize – Steak
• 1987 – Jack Nicklaus – African lobster tail, New York prime sirloin steak, broiled or fried chicken, broiled or sauteed fresh fish
• 1986 – Bernhard Langer – Wiener schnitzel & Spaetzle
• 1985 – Ben Crenshaw – New York prime steak, lobster tail, chicken with baked potato

Prior to 1985 there’s not a great deal known about the menus. Information is sketchy to say the least! I have added details where I can find them, but information is very limited. I will keep trying and add more as I find the information. As there became a more international selection of Masters winners, the Champions Dinner became more of an important event with winners proud to show off their heritage.

• 1984 – Seve Ballesteros
• 1983 – Craig Stadler
• 1982 – Tom Watson
• 1981 – Seve Ballesteros
• 1980 – Fuzzy Zoeller
• 1979 – Gary Player
• 1978 – Tom Watson
• 1977 – Raymond Floyd
• 1976 – Jack Nicklaus 
• 1975 – Gary Player
• 1974 – Tommy Aaron
• 1973 – Jack Nicklaus 
• 1972 – Charles Coody – New York strip steak with mushroom caps
• 1971 – Billy Casper
• 1970 – George Archer
• 1969 – Bob Goalby
• 1968 – Gay Brewer
• 1967 – Jack Nicklaus 
• 1966 – Jack Nicklaus 
• 1965 – Arnold Palmer
• 1964 – Jack Nicklaus 
• 1963 – Arnold Palmer
• 1962 – Gary Player
• 1961 – Arnold Palmer
• 1960 – Art Wall Jr.
• 1959 – Arnold Palmer
• 1958 – Doug Ford
• 1957 – Jack Burke Jr.
• 1956 – Cary Middlecoff
• 1955 – Sam Snead
• 1954 – Ben Hogan
• 1953 – Sam Snead
• 1952 – Ben Hogan – Steak and potatoes

What would be your favourite menu from the list above?

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Bye for now!