The Masters Club: What's for Dinner?

The “Masters Club,” commonly referred to as the “Champions Dinner,” was started in 1952 by Ben Hogan. The dinner has become a tradition and takes place every year the Tuesday before the start of the Masters.

Only past Masters champions are allowed to attend the dinner, and the previous year’s champion serves as host for the dinner and selects the menu. Depending on the player, selections have ranged from cheeseburgers and milkshakes to lobster ravioli to fish and chips.

Let's take a look at some of the winners and menus they chose.

Angel Cabrera (2009)

We will start off with last year's Masters Champion and this years Champions Dinner host, Angel Cabrera. A native of Argentina, we are sure to have a South American twist.

The menu consists of Argentine asado, which is simply BBQ. It includes chorizo, blood sausage, short ribs, beef fillets, and mollejas.

Phil Mickelson (2004)

With his first Masters win in 2004, Phil Mickelson went classy for the 2005 Champions Dinner. Would you expect anything less?

The menu consisted of lobster ravioli in tomato cream sauce, Caesar salad, and garlic bread.

Tiger Woods (1997)

Now, let's go back to 1997 when Tiger Woods, then a 6'2", 155-pound 22-year-old, put on the greatest performance in Augusta National history. Winning by a margin of 12 strokes, Woods became the youngest Masters winner and his menu for the 1998 Champions Dinner revealed his youth.

The menu consisted of cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, french fries, and milkshakes. McDonald's, anyone?

Trevor Immelman (2008)

South African, Trevor Immelman won his first Masters in 2008, holding off Tiger Woods. Immelman's menu was made up of all South African cuisine.

The menu consisted of Bobotie (spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping), sosaties (skewered meats with a spicy sauce), spinach salad, milk tart, and South African wine.

Vijay Singh (2000)

Fiji native Vijay Singh won the 2000 Masters by three strokes over Ernie Els. Singh hosted the Champions Dinner in 2001 and had one of the most in-depth menus in the dinner's history.

The menu consisted of seafood tom kah, chicken panang curry, baked sea scallops with garlic sauce, rack of lamb with yellow kari sauce, baked fillet of Chilean sea bass with three flavor chili sauce, and lychee sorbet.

Mike Weir (2003)

Left-handed golfer Mike Weir was the first Canadian male to win a professional major championship. Let's just say Mickelson's menu the following year is polar opposite to Weir's.

The menu consisted of elk, wild boar, arctic char, and Canadian beer.

Tiger Woods (2005)

Tiger Woods' last Masters win back in 2005 came in a playoff against Chris DiMarco. Woods, eight years older than when he won his first Masters, chose a different style menu than the burgers, fries, and shakes served in '97.

The menu consisted of stuffed jalapeño and quesadilla appetizers with salsa and guacamole, green salad, steak fajitas, chicken fajitas, Mexican rice, refried beans, and apple pie with ice cream for dessert.

Zach Johnson (2007)

Zach Johnson, local boy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the Masters in 2007. He kept his menu for the 2008 Champions Dinner as simple as possible.

The menu consisted of Iowa beef and Florida shrimp.

Nick Faldo (1996)

Going back to '96, Nick Faldo won his third Masters, and in '97 made it an all-English dinner.

The menu consisted of fish and chips, along with tomato soup.

Phil Mickelson (2006)

We will end with Phil. In 2006, Phil captured his second Masters and the All-American chose a down south menu for the 2007 Champions Dinner.

The menu consisted of barbecued rips, chicken, sausage, pulled pork, and cole slaw.