Rory McIlroy won't sit next to Scottie Scheffler at Masters dinner as protocol clear
As defending champion at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy is hosting the annual Masters Champions Dinner
Now, McIlroy arrives back at Augusta National as the reigning champion. But before any competition begins, he has an important responsibility to carry out - hosting one of the Masters' most treasured customs: the Champions Dinner, which takes place annually on the Tuesday leading into the event. This private occasion is limited exclusively to former Masters champions. As the current titleholder, McIlroy takes centre stage - overseeing the evening and choosing the menu himself for a setting rich with golfing tradition.
One interesting aspect of the dinner, which is held on the second floor of the Augusta National clubhouse, is the absence of a seating plan. That said, McIlroy's place is the one exception.
The 36-year-old will sit at the head of the table, flanked by the dinner's long-standing MC, two-time champion Ben Crenshaw and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley. As a result, McIlroy won't need to sit beside the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, or Jon Rahm - players who will be aiming to take his title over the weekend.
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Even without a formal seating chart, many guests tend to follow familiar patterns. "A lot of people sit in the same chairs," 2013 champion Adam Scott revealed in 2023. "I like that, to be perfectly honest. I like the fact that you kind of feel like that's your spot."
Scheffler, a two-time champion, also mentioned the unwritten rules. "There's a little protocol," he said regarding where players usually choose to sit - or avoid sitting. "I'm definitely not going to go sit in the area where Tiger [Woods] and Jack [Nicklaus] sit. Like, there's kind of spots where you kind of feel you'll naturally flow into."
Speaking in advance of the dinner, McIlroy said he felt "incredibly grateful" to finally be involved. "I want to share that with everyone in the room," he said.
"It is the most exclusive dinner club in all of sport and I think we should all feel very fortunate that we are there. We're there because of the hard work and the good play that we've been able to produce."
Coverage of The Masters gets underway on April 9 and golf fans can watch it live with Sky's Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle.
This includes 135 channels, nine from Sky Sports, plus HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will not attend this year. Woods is still recovering after last month's car accident, while Mickelson is unavailable due to a family-related health issue. Nevertheless, roughly 30 former Masters champions are expected to be present, including six-time winner Jack Nicklaus and 90-year-old three-time champion Gary Player.
"Unfortunately, there'll be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame," Mcllroy said. "I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well - they've been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen."
Regarding the food, McIlroy has chosen a rich and indulgent selection. The starters feature peach and ricotta flatbread, rock shrimp tempura, bacon-wrapped dates, and grilled elk sliders. A yellowfin tuna carpaccio is served next, followed by a choice of main course - Wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon. Dessert is a traditional favourite: sticky toffee pudding.
