Jon Rahm’s 2024 Masters Champions Dinner brings LIV Golf, PGA Tour players together: ‘We’re a fraternity’

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Champions Dinner tipped its hat to Spain on Tuesday evening.

“On the 67th birthday of Seve Ballesteros, Jon Rahm became the latest champion to join the elite group of 33 winners, who then reminisced about the first European to win at Augusta.”

Larry Mize, the champion in 1987, expressed that the evening was fantastic and filled with emotions. He mentioned that Ben Crenshaw ensured that the focus of the night was on Jon, Seve, and Jackie Burke. Rahm was seated at the head of the table, next to Ben Crenshaw, which was the first instance of a LIV golfer hosting the dinner.

Despite the ongoing tension between PGA Tour and LIV Golf, both sides came together for one evening.

We are like a brotherhood,” stated Crenshaw, who hosts the yearly dinner event. Charles Coody stated that the atmosphere was very pleasant and friendly.

He mentioned that even Tom Watson expressed his happiness with the camaraderie among the group at the end of dinner, making it a wonderful night.

Crenshaw, speaking in his Texan accent, began the evening by greeting Rahm at the Masters Club and presented him with a gold locket engraved with the Club emblem.

Two years prior, during the 2022 Champions Dinner, Hideki Matsuyama surprised everyone at the table by delivering a speech in English, leading to Gary Player proposing a toast in Japanese.

When asked earlier in the week about congratulating Jon Rahm in Spanish, Ben Crenshaw reflected on his Austin High School diploma.

“I took French,” said Crenshaw, laughing.

From there, stories immersed the room about Seve.

Bernhard Langer orated a tale about the 1983 Ryder Cup at Palm Beach Gardens when Ballesteros struck a 3-wood out of a bunker from 230 yards onto the green.

Langer told the table that from the lie Seve had, no golfer — aside from Ballesteros — would’ve cleared the lip with anything less than a six iron.

Crenshaw also mentioned the passing of 1956 Masters Champion Jackie Burke.

Burke, who shared a Champions locker with Tiger Woods, died on Jan. 19, 10 days before his 101st birthday.

“God put me down here for a long spell,” Burke said on his 100th birthday.

Thirty-three past champions attended the dinner. The only two absent were Angel Cabrera and Sandy Lyle.

According to Mize, Lyle’s wife, Jolanda, was having inner ear problems, and the 1988 Masters winner elected to remain home.

“Jolanda tried to get Sandy to come,” Mize said. “But he didn’t want to come without her.”

Rahm, as the reigning champion, chose the menu for Tuesday night, paying tribute to the Basque region of Spain with his selection of dishes.

The meal started with six choices of tapas and pintxos, the Spanish term for appetizers, followed by a selection of two main courses: Chuleton a la Parrilla, a grilled ribeye with Piquillo peppers, or Rodaballo al Pil-Pil, a fish entree with white asparagus.

José María Olazábal opted for the fish dish. Craig Stadler requested a meal with red meat.

Coody chose the fish. Coody stated that he did not want to explore too deep into unfamiliar territory.

Based on accounts from previous champions, Phil Mickelson, like he did last year, chose to stay silent and decided against giving a toast despite being near Rahm.