Jordan Spieth Reveals Masters Champions Dinner Seating Taboo
Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion, has provided a fascinating glimpse into the exclusive Masters champions dinner, revealing an unwritten seating arrangement that all attendees must observe. The American golfer confirmed he will definitely not sit next to golf legends Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods during the prestigious annual gathering.
The Exclusive Gathering and Its Traditions
This year, Rory McIlroy will host fellow winners of the Green Jacket at the dinner, held two days before the major tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. McIlroy meticulously crafted his menu, drawing inspiration from his mother, Rosie, and his wife, Erica. Spieth earns his invitation to this time-honoured event thanks to his Masters victory in 2015, where he narrowly defeated Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose by four strokes.
Now aged 32, Spieth admits he feels completely comfortable at the champions dinner, having learned how the seating protocol operates over the years. He compared the experience to school days, saying, "It's kind of like 6th, 7th grade. If the teacher has assigned seats you get all bummed and if they let you sit wherever you want you end up sitting in the same spot anyways. It's kind of the same deal. Sit with Scottie [Scheffler], but then when Scottie wins, you know, he's done that twice in the last three or four or so."
The Untouchable Seating Section
Spieth explicitly identified the area where attendees avoid sitting, stating, "There's a certain section on the far side from where we sit where you don't sit, because it's Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. And that's where Arnie [Arnold Palmer] was." This section remains reserved for the sport's most iconic figures, creating a natural boundary within the room.
Scottie Scheffler, another Masters champion, confirmed this informal protocol, explaining, "There's a little protocol. Guys kind of have like, I would say, sections where they sit. But you move around a little bit. There's not necessarily assigned seats but I'm definitely not going to go sit in the area where Tiger and Jack sit. Like, there's kind of spots where you kind of feel you'll naturally flow into."
Nerves and Honour of Hosting
Despite their experience, both Spieth and Scheffler admitted to feeling significant nerves when tasked with hosting the dinner for the first time. Scheffler recalled, "Definitely the first time around when you're hosting the dinner, it's your first time in that room, you don't really know what to expect. I had no idea what it's going to be like. The only thing I really knew was where I was going to sit. That's basically the only thing I knew, sitting next to Mr. Crenshaw and the chairman [Fred Ridley]. So, yeah, I was definitely nervous. I'm not really a super social guy to begin with."
Spieth expressed similar sentiments, adding, "You speak in that room. It's like, what am I going to say to these guys? And I was 22. I don't even remember what I said. But, yeah, I was [nervous]. Not anymore."
Appreciating the Privilege
The opportunity to dine with golfing legends is not lost on either champion. Scheffler reflected on the honour, saying, "I think it's really cool to be in that room. I think you would always dream of being there. It's always fun for me to get to see some of the champions that I don't get to see on a regular basis. So it's always really fun just kind of catching up with those guys, seeing what they're like, kind of seeing what makes them tick, little stuff like that is always really fun."
This insight into the Masters champions dinner reveals not just a meal, but a carefully maintained tradition where respect for the sport's history manifests in subtle, unwritten rules that even its greatest champions follow.
