Rory McIlroy includes elk sliders and one of his mother’s dishes on Masters Champions Dinner menu
The Champions dinner is set to take place on 7 April, two days before the prestigious tournament gets underway
Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy has unveiled a distinctive 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 play-off victory over Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose at Augusta last April, will host the exclusive event. 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.
Among the four appetisers are bacon-wrapped dates, a nod to McIlroy’s 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.
" McIlroy won the Masters in dramatic fashion last year (Getty Images) 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 (mashed potatoes with spring onions), followed by sticky toffee pudding for dessert. 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, and a 1989 Chateau D’Yquem dessert wine.