Rory McIlroy will preside over Augusta National’s annual Champions Dinner, a tradition dating back to Ben Hogan’s 1952 invitation of past Masters champions. The event, held Tuesday of Masters week, will feature McIlroy’s carefully curated menu, reflecting personal memories and culinary milestones.

Past winners such as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson fill the table, while absent icons Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson miss the gathering due to injury and family matters. McIlroy, who captured his fifth major by beating Justin Rose in a playoff, will sit beside chairman Fred Ridley and Ben Crenshaw, marking his status as defending champion.

McIlroy’s spread includes bacon‑wrapped dates inspired by his mother, yellowfin tuna carpaccio from a favourite New York spot, and wagyu filet mignon paired with 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. The menu echoes the tradition of past hosts: Scottie Scheffler’s burger sliders, Jon Rahm’s Spanish stew, and Woods’s 2020 Augusta Roll.

The dinner remains the sport’s most exclusive gathering, offering champions a chance to reminisce and celebrate their legacy under Augusta’s iconic green. McIlroy’s role as host underscores his recent triumph and signals his intent to defend the Green Jacket with the same fervour.