Rory McIlroy's nine-word response to Masters Dinner question he's constantly been asked

Rory McIlroy has joked he 'didn't go more Irish' with his Masters Dinner because he wants to "enjoy" the meal as well. McIlroy, 36, claimed the iconic green jacket for the first time in 2025 and has had the privilege of selecting the menu for his inaugural Masters Champion Dinner at Augusta National.

For appetisers, McIlroy has offered fellow players a peach and ricotta flatbread, rock shrimp tempura, bacon wrapped dates and grilled elk sliders to choose from. The starter features yellowfin tuna carpaccio, with a main course of either wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon. A single dessert rounds off the meal in the shape of a sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream and warm toffee sauce.

Guests will wash that down with champagne and a carefully curated selection of premium wines. McIlroy's dinner is reported to be the most expensive ever staged at £251-per-head, three-times more costly than Scottie Scheffler's menu last year.

Despite this, McIlroy has faced questions over why he opted against featuring more traditionally Irish dishes and ingredients on his menu. The five-time major champion was born in Holywood, County Down, in Northern Ireland.

Laughing off the suggestion, McIlroy said in a press conference on Tuesday: "People keep asking me, 'Why didn't you go more Irish?' And I say, 'Because I want to enjoy the dinner as well.'"

McIlroy also revealed he was encouraged to include one vegetarian option, which is why the peach and ricotta flatbread made the cut. "I think that one was probably for Gary Player," he added. Despite being the defending Masters champion, McIlroy enters the tournament as joint-third favourite at 12/1, trailing Scheffler (11/2) and Jon Rahm (10/1), and level with Bryson DeChambeau (12/1) and Xander Schauffele (12/1).

When asked about returning to the 2026 Masters as the man tasked with defending the iconic green jacket, McIlroy said: "For the past 17 years, I could not wait for the tournament to start. This year, I couldn't care if the tournament never started... Doesn't make me any less motivated to try to win, but just more relaxed about it all."

Casting his mind back to his victory last year, McIlroy added: "It feels absolutely incredible. Can't believe it was 12 months ago that I was sitting here and trying to take it all in.

"To be able to come back and do this press conference in a green jacket, that feels pretty good. It's been an amazing 12 months taking this thing around the world."