5 Apr 2017

Willett picks traditional English dinner at Masters

7:03 am on 5 April 2017

Danny Willett has chosen a traditional English Sunday roast for his U.S. Masters champions dinner at Augusta and is planning a special tribute to American great Arnold Palmer.

2016 Masters champion Danny Willett receives his Green Jacket from last year's winner Jordan Spieth.

2016 Masters champion Danny Willett receives his Green Jacket from last year's winner Jordan Spieth. Photo: AFP

As defending champion, Willett gets to decide what he and his fellow green jacket winners will eat at their traditional gathering ahead of the Masters.

Thirty-four former winners of the tournament will start with cottage pie before tucking into roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and apple crumble.

Traditional English Sunday roast is on the menu for Masters golfers.

Traditional English Sunday roast is on the menu for Masters golfers. Photo: Supplied

"There's been a lot of thought gone into it about how we can embrace British culture and hopefully they enjoy a little taste of Yorkshire," the 29-year-old from Sheffield told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's nothing really off the wall. It would have been what most people would have thought, if they were to come to Britain and sit in a pub on Sunday and have their dinner."

Willett, the second Englishman after Nick Faldo to don the Green Jacket, will propose a toast to four-times Masters champion Palmer, who died last year at the age of 87.

"I've thought of a few words to say and had the idea of toasting Arnie with his favourite drink tonight. To not have him here, it's going to be a sad week," Willett said.

"You're sat in a room there with the best players of all time and I think that in itself is going to be brilliant."

Willett is confident the Augusta chef will prepare the Yorkshire pudding properly. "He'd best be, otherwise I'll be in the kitchen making sure - if they go a bit flat, we're not going to be happy," he said with a smile.

-Reuters