Augusta Masters: secrets and luxuries of the traditional dinner that brings together all the champions

Angelo Cabrera arrived in 2010 a Augusta National Golf Club, with his chest puffed out as the reigning champion, and chose sweetbreads, chorizo, ceviche, meat and chicken empanadas, steak eye and dulce de leche pancakes as the menu for the traditional champions’ dinner, which began to be built in 1952 on the initiative of Ben Hogan. “They were amazed by the empanadas,” Then said the man from Cordoba who was denied a visa to go to the United States after being convicted of gender violence.

The memory of that exciting definition in which the Duck he won the second playoff hole against Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell and won the emblematic green jacket which Sam Snead first used in 1949. The Augusta Masters is a tournament marked by tradition.

Among these stands out the inaugural shot, or “tee shot”, with which the competition usually begins. It started in 1963 with Jack Hutchinson and Fred McLeod and featured the legendary for years Arnold Palmer four-time champion at Augusta. “It’s a shame, but time passes. I would love to do it forever, but I no longer have the physical ability to shoot the shot the way I want,” he said. The king in 2007, when he was 86 years old. He died in 2016 and on that occasion Jack Nicklaus He took his place and remembered it when he took the initial shot.

Also, as entertainment, golfers play every year during training days at “Do Duck” on the 16th hole. That is, they stand at the edge of a lagoon and try to bounce the ball off the water and into it green.

These traditions also reach the fans, they are not exclusive to the players. This Thursday, when the doors of the prestigious club founded in 1930 open, the mass of spectators will enter at an accelerated pace to get a good position around the stadium. green and locate the folding chairs (green, obviously) which are sold inside and which will bear the name of its owner behind the backrest.

If someone needs to go to the bathroom, wants to step away for a moment to stretch their legs or contemplate the green landscape, no problem: the chair will still be there.

And everyone will stand in a long line to get a photo with the tournament logo, another one of the memories that no fan will want to miss. Sometimes, hundreds of people pile up and wait more than an hour for that image.

Jon Rahm arrives with the championship bag

A year after giving Spanish golf its sixth title in the Masters of Augsburg, after those obtained by Severiano Ballesteros (1980 and 1983), José María Olazábal (1994 and 1999) and Sergio García (2017), Jon Rahm He returns to Augusta National, this time outside the PGA and as a member of the controversial LIV Golf, which signed him to a million-dollar contract in December.

His move to Saudi Arabia’s government-funded millionaire circuit has created an impact and earned him much criticism. “The fact that everyone is exempt Major Five years is what helped a lot (to convince him to sign for LIV). “If I hadn’t won one last year, I don’t know if I would have made that leap,” he explained in the press conference.

He faces the difficult task of scoring a double to retain the green jacket, a feat achieved only by Tiger Woods (2001-2002), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966). He is one of the big favorites to win the title, but he will prevail Scottie Scheffler AND Rory McIlroy to its main threats.

McIlroy’s case is special, as the experienced 34-year-old Northern Irishman will strive to complete the Grand Slam, that is, win the four major golf tournaments. He won the US Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and the British Open in 2014. He only needs to win the title at Augusta.

“I don’t have to try to win from the first shot. It’s 72 holes, there are so many different ways to win the tournament. I’m confident, but sometimes you have to take a more conservative path, have patience. It’s something I’ve tried to learn over the years “McIlroy said before the competition.