Grand Slam winning Rory McIlroy has presented a choice of filet mignon or salmon as his main course in hosting his much-anticipated Champions Dinner for the night of April 7th during Masters week.

Indeed, it will be Wagu Filet Mignon or Seared Salmon that all living past Masters champions plus current Augusta Chairman Fred Ridley can choose as their main course. (Fellow Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama served Wagu Fillet Beef when he hosted the 2022 dinner.)

McIlroy has borrowed recipes from some of his favourite restaurants to present before his now fellow Masters champions.

As such, there’s no Irish Stew as GolfByTourMiss had quizzed Rors at the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Rory has honoured his mother Rosie with her favourite of bacon-wrapped dates along with yellowfin tuna, peach and ricotta flatbread and grilled elk sliders as his choice of appetisers.

His First Course being Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio.

And my favourite is Rory’s choice for dessert – Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice-cream and warm toffee sauce.

The tradition of the annual Champions Master Dinner.

1. Founding of the Masters Club: The tradition was started by Ben Hogan in 1952 after he sent a letter to Augusta National suggesting a formal dinner for all past champions. He served as the unofficial host for several years and the event remains a private gathering for green jacket holders and the club chairman only.
2. Selection of the menu: The reigning champion holds the honour of selecting the entire menu for the evening, which often reflects their personal tastes or home region. While the defending champion picks the theme, guests are not actually required to eat it and can order off the club’s standard menu if they prefer.
3. Paying the tab: In a unique twist for the host, the defending champion is responsible for paying the entire bill for the dinner. With the winning purse now exceeding £3million, covering the costs for a few dozen legendary golfers is an expense most winners are more than happy to handle.
4. Scottie Scheffler’s first menu: For his first hosting duties in 2023, Scheffler leaned into his Texas roots by serving cheeseburger sliders “Scottie-style,” firecracker shrimp and tortilla soup. The main course featured a choice of Texas ribeye steak or blackened redfish, finished with a warm chocolate chip skillet cookie.
5. Scheffler’s nostalgic follow-up: After winning again in 2024, Scheffler’s 2025 menu was nearly identical but added “Papa Scheff’s” meatballs and ravioli as a nod to his father. He also swapped the spicy tortilla soup – which some past champs joked was “too spicy” – for a hearty Texas-style chilli.
6. Tiger Woods’ youthful debut: Following his historic 1997 victory at age 21, Woods famously chose a menu that reflected his age for the 1998 dinner. He served cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries and milkshakes to the room full of golf’s elder statesmen.
7. Woods’ later sophisticated tastes: As he matured, Woods’ menus became much more refined, such as his 2003 selection of porterhouse steak, sushi and sashimi. For his most recent dinner in 2020, he returned to a favourite theme by serving steak and chicken fajitas with an “Augusta Roll” sushi appetiser.
8. Cultural heritage on display: Many international winners use the dinner to showcase the cuisine of their home countries to their fellow champions. For example, Hideki Matsuyama served A5 Wagyu beef and speciality sushi in 2022, while Sandy Lyle famously served traditional Scottish haggis in 1989.
9. The presentation of the locket: Beyond the meal itself, the night includes a ceremony where the defending champion is presented with an inscribed gold locket. This piece of jewellery is shaped like the Augusta National logo and signifies the winner’s permanent membership in the most elite club in golf.

• The above nine points courtesy of Daily Mirror (UK)