11-04-2025
At the Masters, a $1.50 pimento cheese sandwich steals the show
When is a pimento cheese sandwich a ritual? When it's at the Masters.
Why it matters: Golf fans who are lucky enough to score a badge to the Masters don't just rave about the drives and putts. They love the absurdly affordable food that has become legend.
Catch up quick: Augusta National is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world, but its menu at the Masters is priced for the masses.
At the very top of the pyramid of culinary excellence: the $1.50 pimento cheese sandwich that comes with its own green jacket (a green plastic wrapper).
How it works: The tradition of affordable food at the VIP event dates back decades and is fairly simple, Clifford Roberts, a former Augusta National chairman, wrote in his 1976 history of the club.
"We believe that one of the reasons the Masters is popular with patrons of the game is because they can obtain good food and drink at reasonable prices."
Fun fact: When Augusta National changed caterers in the early 2010s, the new vendor needed six months to finally recreate the closely guarded original recipe, Golf Digest reported in 2022.
The other side: Not everyone's a fan. The AJC's Ken Sugiura, who's covering the tournament all week, likened the rarified experience to "eating mushy cheddar cheese."
Make it at home: Unfortunately, the tournament's official packages that include pimento cheese, egg salad and other foods to host your own Masters party are sold out.
However, the internet has plenty of recipes mimicking the famous sandwich. Give it your best shot while watching the tournament at home — and use Duke's Mayonnaise.
