Rory McIlroy has shown his empathetic side by adapting the menu for the annual Masters Champions Dinner to accommodate three-time winner Gary Player, who is now '90 per cent vegetarian'. The reigning champion included a peach and ricotta flatbread starter specifically for the South African legend, ensuring he had more than just breadsticks to eat.
The menu, which McIlroy curated for his title defence this week, has been reported as the most expensive on record at Augusta National, costing an average of around £251 ($318) per head. This is almost three times the cost of Scottie Scheffler's menu from 12 months ago.
Main courses featured yellowfin tuna carpaccio, wagyu filet mignon, seared salmon and sticky toffee pudding. When questioned about the lack of Irish influence, McIlroy joked that it was intentional because he 'wanted to enjoy the dinner, too'.
The Champions Dinner is a longstanding tradition held before the first major of the year, with the reigning champion typically adding a personal touch to proceedings. This year's event took place ahead of The Masters, which begins on April 6.
Gary Player, who won the Masters in 1961, 1974 and 1978, has served as one of the competition's ceremonial starters since 2012. His son, Wayne, remains banned from Augusta National after an incident in 2021 where he interrupted the ceremonial tee shot to promote a sponsor.
