Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy has unveiled a distinctive and personal menu for the traditional Champions Dinner, featuring grilled elk sliders and a dish inspired by his mother. The Northern Irishman, who completed a career Grand Slam with his dramatic play-off victory over Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose at Augusta last April, will host the exclusive event on Tuesday, April 7.
Personal Touches and Culinary Choices
Held in the clubhouse on the Tuesday evening of Masters week, the dinner sees the reigning champion curate a bespoke menu for fellow past winners. McIlroy has selected four appetisers, including bacon-wrapped dates, a nod to his mother Rosie, alongside the grilled elk sliders, rock shrimp tempura, and peach and ricotta flatbread.
McIlroy explained the personal touch behind his choices, stating: "My mum does these really, really nice dates stuffed with goat cheese wrapped in bacon, so I put those on the appetisers list. So thanks to Rosie for that one."
Elk Sliders and Main Course Selections
He added: "In the build-up to the Masters last year, I got this big shipment of elk and I was eating a lot of that, and I didn't want elk to be the main course because I didn't know if everyone would like that. I incorporated that into the appetisers so I'm doing grilled elk sliders, which I think is fun."
For the first course, Yellowfin tuna carpaccio has been selected, replicating a dish from Le Bernardin, McIlroy's favourite restaurant in New York City. Main course options include Wagyu filet mignon and seared salmon, accompanied by Irish champ, which is mashed potatoes with spring onions, followed by sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Wine List and Nostalgic Elements
McIlroy described his selections as being "from the heart and from personal experience, and I guess a little bit of nostalgia for me of what I wanted to serve." The 36-year-old was particularly enthusiastic about the wine list, which includes:
- A 2015 Salon Brut champagne
- A 2022 Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet – the first white wine he "actually liked"
- A 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
- A 1989 Chateau D'Yquem dessert wine
The 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild was enjoyed the night he won the Masters, while the dessert wine hails from his birth year and is described as "like liquid gold." McIlroy said: "I wanted to be really intentional with the wines," highlighting his growing passion for collecting. "To work with the sommeliers at the club and be able to choose these wines was a lot of fun."
Event Details and Tournament Schedule
The Champions Dinner is set to take place on April 7, two days before the prestigious 2026 Masters tournament gets underway on Thursday, April 9. This annual tradition allows the defending champion to showcase their culinary preferences and personal stories in a unique gathering of golfing legends.
