April 06, 2022

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 8 comments

Last night was the annual Champions Dinner at The Masters, hosted by Hideki Matsuyama, the defending champ.

Usually the menu for the dinner is announced some days in advance, but this year, the menu was shrouded in secrecy and not made public until hours before the gathering. Not sure what the need for secrecy was - perhaps it was due to the smattering of sushi jokes that made the rounds as people ruminated about the menu possibilities.

The jokesters may now feel emboldened, as sushi was indeed on the menu.

posted by beaverboard at 09:15 PM on April 06, 2022

Everything about that meal sounds incredible. I gotta get back to working on my swing; I want summa that.

posted by tahoemoj at 12:37 AM on April 07, 2022

Yeah it does. Made me very hungry reading it

posted by NoMich at 07:36 AM on April 07, 2022

That menu makes me miss my years in Japan. Of course, I would not have been able to afford a meal like that in Japan or anywhere else. I wonder what kind of fish was served for the sashimi. Fugu (blowfish) was one of my favorites, but they might have had a problem finding a licensed fugu chef near Augusta, Georgia. What a headline that would make: "Masters Champions Wiped Out by Poisonous Fish".

posted by Howard_T at 09:01 AM on April 07, 2022

You think they have the money to fly in all of the foods needed from Japan for this event?

posted by NoMich at 09:37 AM on April 07, 2022

The cost of the meal is up to the hosting champion, as he is responsible for funding it. The food is often brought in from far away as needed. However, one of the most fondly remembered dinner menus from past years was hosted by Vijay Singh, who contracted with the legendary restaurant Nan Thai in Atlanta to cater it.

When you're bringing in quality food from Australia or South Africa, the costs can mount.

I think a lot of people had wished that Scotland was too far afield to allow Sandy Lyle to bring the haggis he served in 1989. The guests don't have to eat what is on the menu. They can order from the club menu - which most did when faced with the haggis.

Good old Bubba Watson served confetti cake for dessert - not once, but twice.

Usually by the time a golfer wins the Masters, he's won previously on tour and presumably has saved some of his hefty winnings, so can afford the cost.

The Augusta culinary and service staff has to be paid as well, and there's usually a significant bar tab. If you're at a high competitive level and playing in the tournament, you might have some wine or a cocktail, but if you're older and not teeing off on Thursday, there's nothing to stop you from slamming down those Azaleas and Old Fashioneds.

posted by beaverboard at 11:14 AM on April 07, 2022

And Arnold Palmers!

posted by NoMich at 12:16 PM on April 07, 2022

Update: Haggis master Sandy Lyle is fittingly alone in last place on the leaderboard, to the great relief of the kitchen crew.

posted by beaverboard at 07:37 PM on April 07, 2022

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