Ever since Phil Mickelson slipped on his first green jacket in 2004, he has been woven into the fabric of the Masters traditions. From the hallowed halls of the Champions Locker Room to the weighty honor of wearing Augusta’s most famous garment, his name stands among the legends of the game. But there’s one tradition that has, at times, made Mickelson the center of attention in a very different way—the annual Champions Dinner. For years, he’s been known to liven up the evening with a bold bet involving a Russian ballerina. Yet, in recent years, the room has felt noticeably quieter in his presence.

Phil Mickelson has fond memories of the Augusta National. He is a three-time Masters winner, having first competed at the event way back in 1991. But having led the exodus from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf, he has become a little distant from the proceedings. In the last two years, Mickelson did attend the Champions Dinner, but was observed to be “dead quiet” and “kept to himself.” However, ahead of this year’s dinner at the Augusta’s Clubhouse on Tuesday, Lefty has spoken about his love for this Masters tradition.

On March 31, Straight Down the Middle shared a post on X, diving into the history of the Champions Dinner, which goes back to 1952. They uploaded the letter that Ben Hogan had sent to all the Masters Champions for the first iteration of the dinner in 1952, and it made Phil Mickelson emotional.

Mickelson reshared it with the note, “The start of something awesome. I’m so grateful to be part of this tradition every year. It’s the fulfillment of a childhood dream.” The dinner is a tradition that no Masters winner would want to miss. Mickelson, himself has hosted the dinner on three occasions: 2005, 2007, and 2011. Many golfers have talked about how Mickelson is often the center of attention on these nights, and a dinner story from over a decade ago proves exactly that.

Speaking to the press in 2021, Mickelson brought up the Champions Dinner from 2014 when Adam Scott was the host on the occasion.

The dinner this year is being hosted by the two-time Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler is going with the Wood-Fired Cowboy Ribeye or Blackened Redfish as the main course options. The World No.1 said that while the menu hasn’t undergone many changes since the last time he hosted in 2023, he wanted to combine his “favorite foods” with “more nostalgic stuff” and make it more of a family affair.

This year could prove to be a landmark year for the tradition, as it could be only the fourth time that the dinner features all living winners of the competition. The previous times it has happened were in 1965, 1967, and 1999. Angel Cabrera’s return is what could make this possible, as the Argentine had missed the last five dinners due to his legal troubles.

As for Mickelson, his heartfelt post on the tradition of the Champions Dinner was received well by the fans, who are excited to see the 54-year-old compete at Augusta soon.

Fans rally behind Phil Mickelson after heartfelt response

Phil Mickelson has won at Augusta three times in his storied career and will be aiming for his fourth title when he tees off this year. One fan really liked the letter and Mickelson’s note to go along with it. He wished Mickelson a victory as well, stating, “Really cool stuff Phil! Go get number 4!”

One fan wanted Mickelson to focus on the task at hand. With close to two weeks left for the iconic tournament, the fan had a piece of advice for the 6-time Major winner, stating, “Let’s get dialed in Phil.” Another fan also expressed his desire to see him on the golf course. Phil Mickelson had migrated to LIV Golf during the beginning stages of the Saudi-backed Tour in what was a very shocking move. He has since then only featured in the majors, and therefore hardcore PGA Tour fans have not had the chance to see him regularly. One fan extended the same thought, saying, “I miss being able to watch you play.”

The dinner is not just a celebration of victory. It is a celebration of hard work, dedication, passion, and resilience. You don’t get to be a Masters Champion just like that. Hence, to be invited to the dinner means that you have reached the pinnacle of the sport through your belief and work ethic. One fan brought this to light, stating, “You earned it, Phil. Love you, man.”

The menu that each former champion comes up with has a sense of individuality and thoughtfulness. A fan explained that he loves how the dinner offers a taste of what makes the individual, stating,  “I love how each of your menus at the Championship dinner tells a story!” This has been true for many such occasions. For example, in 2024, Jon Rahm hosted the dinner. Rahm’s dinner was a tribute to his Spanish roots. “With the help of José Andres, the chef who I feel like needs no introduction for a lot of people, we made what would be a northern Spanish Basque country Bilbao menu and basically put in all of my favorites and even included a dish from my grandma,” said the 2023 Masters Champion of his menu.

Do you think that Phil Mickelson can make an impact at the Augusta National Golf Course this year and claim his fourth title this year?