The 2022 Masters is upon us this week and with it comes all the tradition and pageantry for one of golf’s biggest events.
From the first arrival down Magnolia Lane to Wednesday’s Par 3 contest, Masters week is steeped in history.
Ahead of its start, the defending champion takes on a hosting role, while former winners are often seen in their Green Jackets around the beautiful Augusta National Golf Club.
The current incumbent of the trophy also holds a special event on the Tuesday evening each year before the action truly begins – the annual Champions dinner.
Golf’s greatest sit down in the clubhouse for a meal on the eve of the tournament with the previous years’ champion deciding on the offerings.
Dustin Johnson won the Masters in 2020 and was on hosting duties last year. He chose some solid American staples for his meal, including filet mignon with mashed potatoes and peach cobbler for dessert.
Before that England’s Danny Willett put on a traditional Sunday roast in 2017 while Spain’s Sergio Garcia laid on arroz caldoso de bogavante, a traditional Spanish lobster rice dish, in 2018.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama has called upon some delights from his country of Japan and will bring a taste of East Asia to Augusta.
But what have other past winners elected to serve up to their peers? Here’s some of talkSPORT.com’s favourites…
Patrick Reed, 2019
It was all out Americana from Texas boy Reed after his Masters win in 2018.
He went for prime bone-in cowboy ribeye with all the trimmings including Mac and cheese, creamed corn and creamed spinach.
Reed, clearly a man with a sweet tooth, put on a host of desserts too with tiramisu, vanilla bean creme brulee, chocolate crunch and praline cheesecake all on the menu.
Adam Scott, 2014
Following his play-off win the year before, Adelaide’s Scott brought a touch of Australia to Augusta.
A surf-and-turf grill was the starter and included Moreton Bay ‘bugs’ while Australian Wagyu beef was up next.
The desserts included Anzac biscuits, a sweet and oaty treat which are traditional on Australia’s day of remembrance.
Charl Schwartzel, 2012
Schwartzel pulled off a stunning win in 2011 and made sure to celebrate South Africa for his dinner.
The delicious-sounding menu included a seafood bar with lobster and oysters and ‘braai’, a South African barbecue, with lamb chops, steaks, and sausages.
Schwartzel kept it simple with the afters, serving a vanilla ice cream sundae.
Phil Mickelson, 2011
Mickelson has three Masters titles to his name and his trio of Champions dinners couldn’t be more different.
He went for lobster ravioli and garlic bread in 2005 and barbecued ribs with coleslaw in 2007.
But his 2011 menu was a special one.
To honour the legendary Seve Ballesteros, who was unable to attend due to a brain tumour and sadly died shortly after, Mickelson laid on a Spanish feast.
It included a seafood paella, machango-topped filet mignon and tortillas on the side with ice cream-topped apple empanadas for pudding.
Mike Weir, 2004
Often an American affair, Canada’s Weir won the Masters in 2003 and had to toast the north of the border at his dinner.
Elk, wild boar, Arctic char (fish) and Canadian beer were all on the menu as Weir brought the Maple Leaf traditions to Georgia.
Weir remains the only Canadian Major winner.
Vijay Singh, 2001
Singh is a much-loved former champion and ‘The Big Fijian’ could only go one way for his menu.
Showcasing the South Pacific, he put on seafood tom kha kai, a chicken panang curry and baked sea scallops with garlic sauce.
Also on offer was a rack of lamb with yellow kari sauce and baked filet sea bass with chilli sauce.
Tiger Woods, 1998
Woods won his first Masters title at the age of just 21 and his maiden Champions dinner certainly reflected his tender years.
The year after his incredible 12 stroke victory, Woods laid on cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, french fries and milkshakes.
Since then Woods has branched out and served up quesadillas, fajitas, porterhouse steaks and sushi.
Nick Faldo, 1997
Before Willet and his roast in 2017, Faldo was England’s last winner.
He celebrated his third Green Jacket in a typically British way, serving tomato soup followed by fish and chips.
We imagine spotted dick and custard was for afters but this is unconfirmed…
Sandy Lyle, 1989
As Scotland’s only Masters champion, Lyle had to bring a touch of the Highlands to the USA after his victory in 1988.
The great Scot kept it simple, picking haggis with neeps and tatties for his menu.
Hopefully that was accompanied by a drop of the finest Scotch too!
LATEST NEWS
Keep up to date on all the latest news at talkSPORT.com
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘752905198150451’);
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);