The picture the golf world was waiting for is here with Rory McIlroy taking his spot at the head of the table for the Masters’ annual Champions Dinner.
The Masters’ official account posted the picture on Wednesday morning, revealing 33 attendees for the famous dinner at Augusta National.
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As is tradition, the champion, McIlory, sat at the front with Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley to his left, while two-time winner Ben Crenshaw was to his right.
Among those not in attendance included Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Woods, who regularly doesn’t attend when injured, pulled out of this year again — this time after being arrested in Florida for allegedly driving under the influence.
Meanwhile, three-time champion Mickelson won’t be in Augusta at all this year having withdrawn due to an ongoing “personal health matter” within his family.
Speaking before the dinner to the Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis about what message he wants to send at the dinner, McIlroy said he specifically wanted to call out Woods and McIlroy.
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The 2026 Champions Dinner. Photo: The MastersSource: FOX SPORTS
“I want to acknowledge the two people who aren’t there, Tiger and Phil, who’ve won eight green jackets between them and are two of the greatest champions this tournament has ever seen,” he said.
“I want to make sure they’re acknowledged the right way too, because I would love them to be here tonight and they can’t for different reasons.
“Hopefully they are in the future but I think it’s important to acknowledge them.”
Last year, 32 out of 35 living past champions made it to the dinner with Sandy Lyle, Vijay Singh and Woods the three missing.
This year, 2000 champion Singh returned, although Fuzzy Zoeller passed away late last year.
On the menu for those who did attend was a range of appetisers including peach and ricotta flatbreads, elk sliders, rock shrimp tempura and bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese and almonds.
For the first course, there was yellowfin tuna carpaccio before a choice of wagyu fillet mignon or seared salmon for the main.
Guests then finished the night with a sticky toffee pudding dessert.
“People keep asking me, ‘Why didn’t you go more Irish and I said because I want to enjoy the dinner as well,” McIlroy joked before the dinner.
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