The Masters Champions Dinner, also known as the Masters Club dinner, is held two days before the tournament begins at Augusta National Golf Club, with upwards of 30 former champions in attendance. Started by Ben Hogan in 1952, the 2026 edition marks its 90th iteration and is hosted by Rory McIlroy, who as defending champion selects the menu. This exclusive gathering is strictly reserved for those who have won a Green Jacket, reinforcing its status as a hallmark of golf's elite.
Seating at the dinner follows unwritten rules, with certain sections reserved for legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Tiger Woods has a designated spot where only he sits, a tradition since at least the 1960s, and Adam Scott confirmed that there are absolutely reserved seats for Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, and you don't sit in them. Scottie Scheffler described that there is a little protocol for seating at the dinner, with guys having sections where they sit, but no assigned seats. Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth agreed they would not sit near Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus at the dinner, and Jordan Spieth compared the seating to 6th or 7th grade, where people end up sitting in the same spots even without assigned seats.
Hey, what time does everything start tonight?
When Scottie Scheffler hosted the dinner in 2023, he broke tradition by sneaking his wife Meredith into the dinner before guests arrived. His menu included cheeseburger sliders, firecracker shrimp, Texas Ribeye Steak, Blackened Redfish, and chocolate chip skillet cookie. Scheffler first attended the Champions dinner in 2023 after winning the Masters in 2022, and he described that Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth always sat next to each other at the dinner, with Scheffler asking Zach Johnson where he was sitting and joining him, avoiding asking Jordan Spieth.
For the 2026 dinner, Rory McIlroy's menu includes peach-and-ricotta flatbread, grilled elk sliders, yellowfin tuna carpaccio, and sticky toffee pudding. McIlroy said he thought more about his speech than the menu for the 2026 dinner, indicating the significance of his address to the assembled champions. Zach Johnson advised Rory McIlroy to 'Bring it!' for his menu and incorporate who he is, reflecting the personal touch expected from hosts.
Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth always sat next to each other at the dinner.
Phil Mickelson's behavior at past dinners has varied, with Jordan Spieth and Mark O'Meara noting he is known for being gregarious and telling stories. Arnold Palmer once told Phil Mickelson to shut up at a dinner because he was talking loudly, according to Mark O'Meara. However, at the 2024 dinner, Nick Faldo observed that Mickelson was very quiet and didn't say a word, highlighting a shift in his demeanor.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were absent from the 2026 Masters dinner, with multiple reports indicating Woods is absent from the Masters altogether this year following his high-profile arrest. Phil Mickelson is missing the 2026 tournament due to a family health matter, though the exact nature or severity of this matter remains unknown.
Scottie Scheffler asked Zach Johnson where he was sitting and joined him, avoiding asking Jordan Spieth.
In his speech at the 2026 dinner, Rory McIlroy said they miss Tiger Woods and he has to take care of himself, according to Tommy Aaron. This acknowledgment came as Woods, a five-time Masters champion, faced legal challenges, with multiple reports stating he left the U.S. to seek treatment after being charged with driving under the influence.
Phil Mickelson's absence due to a family health matter adds another layer of uncertainty, as the exact nature of this situation has not been disclosed. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods' current whereabouts or treatment location after reportedly leaving the U.S. are also unknown, leaving gaps in the understanding of his situation.
There is a little protocol for seating at the dinner, with guys having sections where they sit, but no assigned seats.
At the 2023 dinner, Scottie Scheffler joked to Bubba Watson that he would have a separate table for him, referencing LIV Golf tensions, according to Scheffler. Bubba Watson responded comically that he would sit wherever Scheffler told him, as long as he was invited, according to Watson. Scheffler said the Masters Dinner is an opportunity to put PGA Tour/LIV Golf tensions aside, emphasizing the event's role in bridging divides within the sport.
An anecdote from 2009 illustrates the dinner's informal pressures, as Trevor Immelman was hitting balls next to Tiger Woods on the practice range at Augusta National Golf Club on a bright spring day. Immelman was the defending Masters champion and host of the Champions dinner in 2009, and Tiger Woods described asking about the dinner time, causing Immelman to get nervous as Woods was messing with him.
Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth won't sit in the area where Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus sit.
Zach Johnson called into Colt Knost's SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio show to provide insight into the Champions dinner, according to multiple reports. At Scottie Scheffler's dinner, most people ordered one of the mains, but Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth did not, and Zach Johnson described eating so much at the dinner that he left extremely stuffed. Johnson tied for eighth at the Masters after the dinner, his best finish since winning in 2007, showcasing a potential post-dinner performance boost.
How the seating protocol at the dinner is enforced or communicated among champions beyond informal agreements remains unclear, as players rely on unwritten understandings rather than formal rules. This informal system underscores the dinner's unique culture, where traditions are passed down through generations of champions.
Jordan Spieth compared the seating to 6th or 7th grade, where people end up sitting in the same spots even without assigned seats.
Tiger Woods' Masters legacy is cemented by his five victories and his designated dinner seat tradition, which has persisted for decades. His absence in 2026 highlights the challenges he faces, with legal issues clouding his participation and leaving fans wondering about his future in the tournament.
In conclusion, the Masters Champions Dinner serves as a vital forum for honoring champions and bridging golf divides, with Scottie Scheffler noting it puts PGA Tour/LIV Golf tensions aside. The event's strict reservation for Green Jacket winners ensures its exclusivity, while evolving menus and speeches reflect each host's personality, maintaining its relevance in the sport's storied history.
There is a certain section on the far side where Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods sit, and that's where Arnold Palmer was.
Zach Johnson ate so much at the dinner that he left extremely stuffed.
Zach Johnson advised Rory McIlroy to 'Bring it!' for his menu and incorporate who he is.