One cardinal rule of Augusta National (and life) is, don’t enter a party you’re not invited to. If it’s the Champions Dinner, you’d better be careful unless you’re a past winner. Rory McIlroy might be the host of this year’s Champions Dinner, but last year, he almost embarrassed himself in front of past champions.

Last year, Rory McIlroy was supposed to dine with his friend Justin Rose at Augusta National, whom he would go on to beat in a playoff later. But the Ulsterman was unsure about where to park as he drove down Magnolia Lane. Once he pulled into the Founders Circle, adjacent to the clubhouse, his initial reaction was to park the car and hand the keys to the valet, like he always did. But then he realized the mistake.

“Then at that specific moment, the champions were having their cocktails out on the balcony. I’m like, I don’t want to valet, get out, they’re going to see me, and it’s going to be weird. So I had this really awkward moment with it all last year. Yeah, thankfully, that was the last time that I needed to do that.”

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It would’ve been awkward because of McIlroy’s history at Augusta National. Before last year, the Ulsterman came close to winning the Masters a couple of times. Augusta National was the last holdout on his way to a career grand slam. Everyone in the Champions Dinner room knew McIlroy deserved a place, but unfortunately, only the winners are allowed. Rory McIlroy doesn’t want to relive that moment, and he won’t have to now that he has won the Masters.

Ben Hogan started the tradition in 1952. Following his Masters win in 1951, he proposed inviting all past winners and throwing them a party. Participants of the inaugural dinner were Horton Smith, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Jimmy Demaret, Craig Wood, Claude Harmon, Sam Snead, and Ben Hogan.

After his 2025 win, Rory McIlroy will experience it for the first time this year. However, the same win also brought questions.

“What do I do from now onwards? What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game? I think that’s the story,” McIlroy said.

As the defending champion, he certainly has perks and is also the host for this year’s dinner. And he has selected a menu that has garnered widespread praise.

The golf world praises Rory McIlroy’s menu

The 2025 Masters winner has selectively chosen some of the finest dishes for the menu. The key features include yellowfin tuna carpaccio from Le Bernardin, wagyu filet mignon with traditional Irish champ, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

However, what caught the attention of many was the collection of wine. He is going for a blend of vintage and modern drinks, which includes the 2015 Salon “S,” Brut, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, the 2022 Domaine Leflaive, Batard-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy, the 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, and the 1989 Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux.

Even veterans like Ben Crenshaw, who will attend the Champions Dinner, said that the past winners can’t wait to taste the wine collection. He even warned McIlroy that it would hurt his pocket. The vintage collections, especially, can cost him thousands. However, it’s a price he is willing to pay to experience his first Masters Champions Dinner night.

Fans, too, have praised Rory McIlroy and his choices. They praised his menu over Scottie Scheffler’s, who hosted last year’s event.

From a menu that reflects both personal taste and prestige to a wine list that has already drawn admiration, Rory McIlroy’s first Champions Dinner marks his full arrival inside Augusta’s most exclusive circle.