Masters Champions Dinner Date and Location
The Masters Champions Dinner is held annually on the Tuesday before the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The event brings together past Masters champions for a private dinner and awards ceremony on the grounds of the club Forbes. The dinner is part of the official Masters Tournament week schedule and takes place after the final round of the Par 3 Contest.
The Masters Tournament itself is the first major of the golf season and is hosted by Augusta National, a private club co-founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts Forbes. The Champions Dinner tradition began in 1952 when then-host Clifford Roberts invited past winners to a dinner at the Augusta National clubhouse. The event has since become a formalized part of the Masters week calendar, with the host club controlling all access and invitations.
Who Attends the Masters Champions Dinner
Attendance is limited to past Masters champions who hold a lifetime invitation to the tournament. The host, the Masters Tournament committee, and invited guests such as corporate partners and sponsors also attend Forbes. Current Masters champions are expected to attend and often host or speak at the dinner on behalf of the previous year's winner.
The dinner is hosted by the most recent Masters champion, who selects the menu and often shares personal reflections on their win. Past hosts have included Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, and other multiple major winners. The event is not open to the general public, and tickets are not sold; all invitations are managed internally by Augusta National and the Masters Tournament committee Forbes.
Masters Champions Dinner Traditions and Format
Dinner Menu and Hosting Role
The hosting champion chooses the menu, which often reflects personal tastes or regional cuisine. The dinner is served in the Augusta National clubhouse or a designated private dining area within the club grounds Forbes. The format is a sit-down dinner with speeches, toasts, and the presentation of the green jacket to the reigning champion if they have not yet received one.
Green Jacket and Invitation Rules
The green jacket is the most recognized symbol of Masters membership, and past champions wear it during the tournament and at the dinner Forbes. Augusta National retains the right to revoke or suspend membership, including dinner invitations, for conduct deemed inconsistent with the club's standards. The club does not publicly disclose its full invitation criteria, but the dinner remains a core tradition tied to Masters championship status.
Event Timing Within Masters Week
The Champions Dinner is scheduled for Tuesday of Masters week, the day after the Par 3 Contest and two days before the first round of the tournament