Tiger Woods’ absence from 2025 Masters champions dinner explained as pictures emerge | Golf | Sport
Eagle-eyed golf fans were quick to spot that Tiger Woods was not present at the 2025 Masters Champions Dinner, with one fellow professional left disappointed by his absence. The Champions Dinner is open to all of the previous green jacket holders, and it happens annually before the first major of the year, with the reigning victor getting to dictate the menu.
Having won his second green jacket last year, Scottie Scheffler was the man in charge this time around. Making reference to the freak injury he picked up on Christmas Day, the American decided on a menu that included cheeseburgers, meatballs and ravioli.
However, there was no Woods in attendance this year, with the golfing icon having been forced to cut back on public appearances since rupturing his Achilles. It’s an injury that will prevent him from competing at Augusta National this week, with this year being the second time Woods has missed the annual Champions Dinner.
Having been involved in a car accident that almost left Woods without a leg, the five-time Masters winner sat out the 2021 edition. But his absence this time around left golf fans and professionals alike upset, with Min Woo Lee commenting on the official Masters’ Instagram account: “No Tiger? :(“.
When quizzed on the Texas-themed menu, Scheffler explained: “It’s my favourite foods, haven’t quite changed too much but there’s a little bit, I would say, more kind of nostalgic stuff. My dad’s meatballs made the menu. There’s a meatball and ravioli type of dish that was always my favorite thing growing up. My dad, his best meal was always meatballs. So I think that’s going to be one of the appetizers.
“I always put the fries on my burger, and that’s what ‘Scottie style’ is. It’s fries on the patty. It’s usually thin patties and I’ll find some of the melted cheese, throw the fries in there, ketchup. It’s pretty great. Then the soup, my coach makes the best chilli. So I think they are trying to use his recipe for the chilli inspiration. So that’s really fun and then I think we’re doing ribeye again, and some red fish and tequila and bourbon this time.”
He concluded: “It should be a fun night, fun meal, and very excited about being able to host a Champions Dinner again and very excited to see how it’s prepared and what the chefs at Augusta pull off this year.”
The action from Augusta kicks off on Thursday morning local time, with Scheffler the bookies’ favourite heading into the tournament.
