McIlroy, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Monday, is contemplating taking a more relaxed approach next year at Augusta for the pre-tournament ceremony
Staff reporter and Carl Markham
17:08, 06 May 2026Updated 17:22, 06 May 2026
Rory McIlroy attends a State Dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to honor Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the East Room of the White House(Image: HENRY NICHOLLS, AFP via Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy is already planning a homegrown feel to his 2027 Masters Champions Dinner ‘to appease all the people he p****d off’.
The Holywood man’s Augusta dining selection this year drew criticism from back home after he joked that he chose not to offer a menu more reflective of his roots because “he wanted to enjoy it”.
However, having invested considerable time planning his first time hosting the prestigious event, McIlroy, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Monday, is contemplating taking a more relaxed approach next year.
“I’m not a big liquor guy but I was thinking of a certain cocktail with Bushmills (whiskey) in it just to try a little bit of a nod back home so I might try to do something like that next year just to appease all the people I p***ed off,” said the back to back Masters champion.
Rory McIlroy’s Masters dinner menu
Speaking on the New Heights podcast, hosted by NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce, McIlroy added: “I went pretty fancy this year. It’s always on the Tuesday night so I could always do a Taco Tuesday, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it too much.
McIlroy drew a comparison between hosting the dinner and a wedding day when speaking to Travis Kelce, who is due to wed pop superstar Taylor Swift later this year, with the Kansas City tight end wasting no time in asking the Northern Irishman about his wine selection.
“Travis you’ll feel this this year, whenever you’re sitting at your wedding,” he added. “It’s amazing having all these people in the same room from your childhood, it’s surreal.”
The 37-year-old six-time major winner says he’s feeling more driven than ever following his consecutive victories at Augusta.
McIlroy hasn’t competed since claiming his second green jacket in succession nearly a month ago, but is set to return at this week’s Truist Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, before travelling to the US PGA on Monday for the season’s second major.
After becoming just the fourth golfer to achieve back-to-back Masters triumphs, the world number two enjoyed a considerably quieter period than when he completed the career Grand Slam.
“Maybe not quite as hectic as last year,” said McIlroy, who has won the Truist Championship four times at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
“I didn’t do the media trip up to New York. It was nice to just get a little bit of downtime and chill.
“Erica (his wife) and I took a trip to New York, which was nice, and then I did the State Dinner at the White House (with President Donald Trump and King Charles) last Tuesday, which was an amazing evening.
“I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought it was needed to get back on the range and start to practise and get ready for this stretch coming up.
“I’m excited for the road ahead. I’m excited for this week, I’m excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock (US Open), Birkdale (The Open).
“I feel like if anything I’m more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I’ve ever been.”
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