Augusta winners dined on Ensalada Verde con Vinagreta de Gazpacho (Mesculan greens, sherry vinaigrette and olives), Paella de Mariscos (seafood paella), Filete de Res Mignon (prime beef tenderloin), Pimenton Ahumado Demi Glace (Machango cheese, smoked paprika demi-glace). Sweets consisted of Empanada de Manazana (Spanish apple pie, vanilla ice cream, chocolate cinnamon ganache).

Mickelson chose the menu in honour of ailing Seve Ballesteros and spoke of his fondness for the Spaniard. However it was double Augusta winning Jose Maria Olazabal who delivered an emotional account of how his good friend continues to recover from a brain tumour.

“Jose Maria spoke for five or six minutes and he told us that he had spoken to Seve and that he wanted to tell us that he misses us all,” said Scot Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion. “Then Ollie went through a few of his European players and described us. He called Ian Woosnam a small man with a big heart and that I was too nice a person! It was nice to be among those singled out but the whole evening was very emotional.”

“Ray Floyd’s wife isn’t very well at the moment, so she was mentioned too, while Phil mentioned how much support he and Amy had over the last year or so and said that the former champions are like a family.”