Scottie Scheffler may be a killer on the course but the defending Masters champion promised to steer clear of all sharp objects at the annual Champions Dinner at Augusta on Tuesday night, lest he “take out the competition”.
Tiger Woods was a notable absentee from the famous dinner for Green Jacket winners, as he continues his recovery from the Achilles tear that has plunged his career into doubt. But those who did attend – including, controversially, 2009 winner Angel Cabrera, back at Augusta for the first time since being released from jail after serving time for assault, theft and illegal intimidation – appeared to enjoy themselves.
Scheffler, aiming for a third Masters win in four years this week, was the star attraction, and the New Jersey-born golfer showed he was a good sport, making fun of the freak kitchen accident he suffered while attempting to make homemade ravioli on Christmas Day. The hand injury famously caused Scheffler to miss three weeks of action after he was forced to undergo surgery. Scheffler, 28, served up the dish as part of a menu he personally curated.
It has become Masters tradition for the previous year’s winner to select the food for the annual eve-of-tournament dinner for green jacket winners the following year.
In a move that would have pleased anyone invested in the global stock market, Scheffler served up the cheapest Champions Dinner in a decade, at just $108 (£84.60) per person.
It featured cheeseburger sliders (served “Scottie-style”), firecracker shrimp, and “Papa Scheff’s meatball and ravioli bites”. The latter was a humorous nod to his injury from Christmas Day when he cut himself with a wine glass while attempting to make homemade ravioli.
Scheffler was asked in a press conference if there would be a “make-your-own ravioli station” for his dinner and gave a nice response. “If I was trying to take out the competition, I would definitely do a demonstration,” he said. “Maybe they’ll cut up my steak for me, I won’t have to use a knife or anything like that. We’ll see.”
It is unclear whether Woods baulked at the cheapness of the meal – a far cry from Hideki Matsuyama’s Champions Dinner in 2022 which was an eye-watering $220 (£172.36) per plate, or if the American’s Achilles was continuing to cause him problems. Either way, the five-time champion was a notable absentee from the traditional photo.
It is the second time he has missed the event. The first was in 2021 when it was held two months after the serious car accident in which he could have lost his leg. Woods, 49, announced last month that he had surgery to repair an Achilles rupture after hurting himself practising at home.
The rest of the Green Jackets presented the usual assortment of grey hair, bed hair, hat hair and no hair. What is notable is Phil Mickelson stood over Scheffler – of whom he has previously said: “Here’s a hot take. Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don’t think so.”
Mickelson was also next to Fred Couples, who he labelled a “low-class jerk” in March.
Cabrera, whose very presence at Augusta is hugely controversial, stood between Mike Weir and Matsuyama.
According to Golfweek, Ben Crenshaw welcomed Cabrera back to the table in his speech, though the Argentine did not address the group himself, and also paid tribute to Bernhard Langer ahead of his last Masters. 1973 winner Tommy Aaron described the dinner as “quiet – quieter than normal”.
Fuzzy Zoeller, who won in 1979, was more concerned with the Texas-style chilli that was served. “It was a five-alarm fire,” Zoeller said. “I had to call the fire department to blow it out.”
Scheffler, who tees off at 3:15pm UK time on Thursday alongside Justin Thomas and amateur Jose Luis Ballester, added in his press conference on Tuesday that his pollen allergies were a bigger threat to his chances this week than any sharp cutlery. “It’s raining pollen out here… I get out of my car in the morning, my eyes start watering.
“It’s a little bit worse than normal years. But I feel good, ready to roll. Sniffles aren’t going to stop me.”
Scottie Scheffler may be a killer on the course but the defending Masters champion promised to steer clear of all sharp objects at the annual Champions Dinner at Augusta on Tuesday night, lest he “take out the competition”.
Tiger Woods was a notable absentee from the famous dinner for Green Jacket winners, as he continues his recovery from the Achilles tear that has plunged his career into doubt. But those who did attend – including, controversially, 2009 winner Angel Cabrera, back at Augusta for the first time since being released from jail after serving time for assault, theft and illegal intimidation – appeared to enjoy themselves.
Scheffler, aiming for a third Masters win in four years this week, was the star attraction, and the New Jersey-born golfer showed he was a good sport, making fun of the freak kitchen accident he suffered while attempting to make homemade ravioli on Christmas Day. The hand injury famously caused Scheffler to miss three weeks of action after he was forced to undergo surgery. Scheffler, 28, served up the dish as part of a menu he personally curated.
It has become Masters tradition for the previous year’s winner to select the food for the annual eve-of-tournament dinner for green jacket winners the following year.
In a move that would have pleased anyone invested in the global stock market, Scheffler served up the cheapest Champions Dinner in a decade, at just $108 (£84.60) per person.
It featured cheeseburger sliders (served “Scottie-style”), firecracker shrimp, and “Papa Scheff’s meatball and ravioli bites”. The latter was a humorous nod to his injury from Christmas Day when he cut himself with a wine glass while attempting to make homemade ravioli.
Scheffler was asked in a press conference if there would be a “make-your-own ravioli station” for his dinner and gave a nice response. “If I was trying to take out the competition, I would definitely do a demonstration,” he said. “Maybe they’ll cut up my steak for me, I won’t have to use a knife or anything like that. We’ll see.”
It is unclear whether Woods baulked at the cheapness of the meal – a far cry from Hideki Matsuyama’s Champions Dinner in 2022 which was an eye-watering $220 (£172.36) per plate, or if the American’s Achilles was continuing to cause him problems. Either way, the five-time champion was a notable absentee from the traditional photo.
It is the second time he has missed the event. The first was in 2021 when it was held two months after the serious car accident in which he could have lost his leg. Woods, 49, announced last month that he had surgery to repair an Achilles rupture after hurting himself practising at home.
The rest of the Green Jackets presented the usual assortment of grey hair, bed hair, hat hair and no hair. What is notable is Phil Mickelson stood over Scheffler – of whom he has previously said: “Here’s a hot take. Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don’t think so.”
Mickelson was also next to Fred Couples, who he labelled a “low-class jerk” in March.
Cabrera, whose very presence at Augusta is hugely controversial, stood between Mike Weir and Matsuyama.
According to Golfweek, Ben Crenshaw welcomed Cabrera back to the table in his speech, though the Argentine did not address the group himself, and also paid tribute to Bernhard Langer ahead of his last Masters. 1973 winner Tommy Aaron described the dinner as “quiet – quieter than normal”.
Fuzzy Zoeller, who won in 1979, was more concerned with the Texas-style chilli that was served. “It was a five-alarm fire,” Zoeller said. “I had to call the fire department to blow it out.”
Scheffler, who tees off at 3:15pm UK time on Thursday alongside Justin Thomas and amateur Jose Luis Ballester, added in his press conference on Tuesday that his pollen allergies were a bigger threat to his chances this week than any sharp cutlery. “It’s raining pollen out here… I get out of my car in the morning, my eyes start watering.
“It’s a little bit worse than normal years. But I feel good, ready to roll. Sniffles aren’t going to stop me.”
