Rory McIlroy: I’ve thought about champions’ dinner speech more than the menu

Rory McIlroy admits he took more time thinking about his speech at the Masters champions’ dinner than he did planning the menu.

As is tradition at Augusta the defending champion hosts an event in the clubhouse for all previous winners of the green jacket at which he gets to select what everyone eats.

An assembly of golfing greats are set to tuck into appetisers of peach and ricotta flatbread, rock shrimp tempura, bacon-wrapped dates and grilled elk sliders for starters, followed by Yellowfin tuna carpaccio for a first course.

The mains are a choice of wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon with traditional Irish champ, sauteed brussels sprouts, glazed carrots with brown butter and crispy onion rings, with sticky toffee pudding and vanilla ice cream to finish.

Wines for the evening are a 2015 Salon Brut champagne, a 2022 Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet and a 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild from Pauillac in Bordeaux.

It is reportedly the most expensive champions dinner hosted, at an estimated cost of £250 a head.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. Honestly, I’ve probably thought about that (the speech) more than the food,” said McIlroy ahead of his dinner.

“So many legends of the game there. Obviously there’s two (Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson) that won’t be with us this year, which is a shame, but I’m sure they will be with us in the future.

“But talking in front of that group, I want to say the right things and make sure I get my feelings across of how grateful I am to be a part of that group.

“I’ll follow Ben Crenshaw’s lead. I know he’ll direct the run of show a little bit, but I have a few remarks that I want to make.”

On the choice of menu, McIlroy said: “I was trying to achieve something that I would enjoy but – and it ties back to experiences that I’ve had – also wanted it to be something that all the other people in that room would enjoy as well.

“People keep asking me, ‘Why didn’t you go more Irish?’ And I said, ‘Because I want to enjoy the dinner as well’.

“It’s been fun to work through. The fun part was getting access to that wonderful wine cellar that they have.”