Sir Nick Faldo: My Masters Champions Dinner was iconic but one golfer got it horribly wrong

If our math is correct, only 54 people on this earth have ever attended a Masters Champions dinner at Augusta National.

Dating from 1952 and taking place on Tuesday evening of Masters week, it is the most exclusive party in sport.

Only the Augusta president and golfers wearing green jackets are invited, while the defending champion hosts the evening with his own special menu.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall as Jon Rahm serves a Spanish feast to a group of men who probably hated his recent move to LIV Golf.

Times were much simpler when Sir Nick Faldo won his third Masters title in 1996.

The six-time major winner went to the full Sam Allardyce: no-nonsense, first way, 4-4-2. Nothing of the sort.

It was fish and chips. With peas. And Sarson’s vinegar.

And if you’ve ever frequented one of the many world-famous Harry Ramsden’s restaurants along the English coast, well, you and Jack Nicklaus have one thing in common.

Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Faldo said: “My fish and chips… It was my best. It was very successful. Everyone loved it.

“I also brought Harry Ramsden’s fillets with these big chips – and peas. They had a look at them, because they’re neon green, aren’t they?

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“They asked, ‘What is this?’ I said, “Péa pâté.” They said, “Pâté what!?” So it went well.

“I’ve also had Sarson’s Vinegar. Honestly, I consider it one of the top three.”

Faldo continued: “I imagine it’s going to be a great night with Jon (Rahm).

“We have sofas on the front balcony. I think Vijay (Singh) started this. He had a chef friend who would bring Asian snacks and we did that over the years.

“We get our crab, our shrimp, our hams and our cheeses, all kinds of things. So that’s very nice. And so I can imagine Jon is going to do something special.”

There’s a fine line between a cultural experience and a cheesy meal.

And according to Faldo, champion Bubba Watson got that balance horribly wrong.

The Englishman added: “What was the worst? Oh, it was Bubba, wasn’t it? When we had Chuck E. Cheese.

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“When we ate a little hamburger, a little corn and a little ice cream.

“I think we also had a milkshake. So, yeah, that was a lot.”

Like any engaging episode of Come Dine With Me, the food is often secondary to the entertainment.

And for Faldo, it’s the business that makes the Champions Dinner something so proud and special.

“It can get very emotional,” the golf legend added. “Because some of the old boys get along, or you’ve lost someone and you remember old stories and that sort of thing.

“We usually laugh as well. Everyone laughs, especially when Jack (Nicklaus) says, ‘Well, it was pretty easy in 1965.’ which was quite amusing. “So because you won by 10 or whatever?”

“It’s usually very entertaining. I’m very, very, very proud to be a part of it. It’s pretty special.”

The Masters will be available on Sky Sports Golf and via a NOW subscription from the 11th^th – 14^th April, and you can follow all the latest news on Sky Sports social channels throughout the week.