Masters Releases 2026 Champions Dinner Portrait

Rory McIlroy front and center at annual Augusta National celebration

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:22am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the figures of Rory McIlroy, Fred Ridley, and Ben Crenshaw in an abstract, fragmented composition, capturing the energy and prestige of the exclusive Masters Champions Dinner event.The annual portrait of the Masters Champions Dinner celebrates the camaraderie and legacy of golf's greatest tournament winners.Augusta Today

The Masters has released the annual photo from the Champions Dinner, showcasing the 2026 event celebrating Rory McIlroy's victory the previous year. The image features McIlroy seated at the center of the table, flanked by Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw.

Why it matters

The Champions Dinner is a longstanding tradition at the Masters, bringing together past tournament winners for a private celebration at Augusta National. The annual portrait provides a glimpse into this exclusive event and highlights the camaraderie among the golf legends who have won one of the sport's most prestigious titles.

The details

McIlroy's menu for the evening featured a variety of fine wines and other selections. Of the 35 living Masters champions, 33 were in attendance, with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson the only notable absences. Last year, 32 past champions made the dinner, with Sandy Lyle, Vijay Singh, and Tiger Woods not present. Fuzzy Zoeller, the last player to win the Masters in his debut in 1979, passed away late last year.

  • The Champions Dinner took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • Last year, the 2025 Champions Dinner was attended by 32 of the 35 living past champions.

The players

Rory McIlroy

The 2025 Masters champion, who was the centerpiece of the 2026 Champions Dinner portrait.

Fred Ridley

The chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, seated to Rory McIlroy's left in the portrait.

Ben Crenshaw

A two-time Masters champion, seated to Rory McIlroy's right in the portrait.

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What’s next

The 2027 Masters Tournament will take place April 10-13, 2027, with the Champions Dinner scheduled for the Tuesday evening prior.

The takeaway

The annual Champions Dinner portrait provides a glimpse into the exclusive celebration of Masters champions, highlighting the camaraderie and legacy of the game's greats. Despite some notable absences, the 2026 dinner continued the tradition of honoring the previous year's winner in the storied setting of Augusta National.