Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish golfer seeking to complete a career Grand Slam, has shared details of the menu he would curate for the Masters Champions Dinner if he wins the tournament. The annual event is hosted by the defending champion exclusively for past Masters winners on the Tuesday evening before the competition at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

In an interview with the Irish Independent ahead of the 2024 Masters, McIlroy outlined four appetizers: rock shrimp tempura, peach and ricotta flatbread, bacon-wrapped dates and grilled elk sliders with caramelized onion jam and roasted garlic aioli.[1][2]

The bacon-wrapped dates are inspired by his mother's recipe. "My mom does these really, really nice dates stuffed with goat’s cheese wrapped in bacon. So, I’ve put those on the appetizers list," McIlroy said.[1]

He explained the inclusion of elk sliders to avoid overusing the meat. "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... so I’m doing grilled elk sliders, which I think is fun."[1]

The first course would be yellowfin tuna carpaccio, drawn from Le Bernardin, a New York City restaurant favored by McIlroy and his wife. "It’s called Le Bernardin, and this is a dish from that restaurant," he said.[1]

Main course options include wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon, served with Irish champ potatoes, Brussels sprouts and crispy Vidalia onion rings. McIlroy recalled: "When I was a kid, I used to eat champ by the bowlful."[1][2]

Dessert would feature sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream and warm toffee sauce. Wine selections from Augusta National's cellar include a 2022 Domaine Leflaive (bottles exceeding $2,000) and a 1990 Château Lafite (averaging at least $1,200 per bottle), according to Wine-Searcher listings.[1]

The tradition dates to 1952, started by Ben Hogan. McIlroy's four major victories -- 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2014 PGA Championship -- leave the Masters as the missing piece for the career Grand Slam, achieved by five players: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.[3]

Sources

1. Irish Independent
   Masters 2024: Rory McIlroy reveals Champions Dinner menu which includes mum's recipe and ultra-exclusive wines
   10 April 2024
   https://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/masters-2024-rory-mcilroy-reveals-champions-dinner-menu-which-includes-mums-recipe-and-ultra-exclusive-wines/a1312384292.html
2. Golf Digest
   Rory McIlroy has a Champions Dinner menu planned for if he ever wins the Masters
   9 April 2024
   https://www.golfdigest.com/story/rory-mcilroy-masters-champions-dinner-menu
3. Masters.com
   Champions Dinner
   Accessed 2024
   https://www.masters.com/en_US/inside/champions_dinner/index.html