Singh set to serve his tasty Thai treat

Vijay Singh will share one of the secrets of his success in last year's Masters with some of his leading rivals in this week's tournament.

As reigning champion it is Singh's responsibility to host tomorrow night's Annual Champions Dinner.

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Hootie Johnson and former winners of the Masters are the only people who are invited to this special event. It is a meal steeped in traditions, one of which is that the menu should be compiled by the host.

Since it was started in 1952 by Ben Hogan, the Champions Dinner has become a showcase for cuisines reflecting the roots of the defending champion - with varying degrees of success.

There were raised eyebrows when Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion from Scotland, chose haggis. The choices of three-times champion Nick Faldo have included shepherd's pie, steak and kidney pie, and fish and chips. Tiger Woods, as befitted his youth, offered cheeseburgers and milkshakes in 1998.

And Singh? His taste is for Thai, which he feasted on during last year's successful bid for the Masters title. A good friend who owns a Thai restaurant in Atlanta is coming specially to Georgia to cook the meal.

Singh revealed: "Last year they came up every night to put Thai food in my fridge.

"After a round of golf we'd heat it up and it was very good."

Some past menus

2000 - Jose Maria Olazabal: filet mignon with Bordeaux sauce, french fries and shallots plus a chocolate dessert
1999 - Mark O'Meara: steak and chicken fajitas, with sushi and sashimi appetizers
1996 - Ben Crenshaw: Texas barbecue
1995 - Jose Maria Olazabal: paella, tapas and hake
1994 - Bernhard Langer: turkey and dressing with wedding soup and black forest torte
1993 - Fred Couples: chicken cacciatore
1992 - Ian Woosnam: leg of lamb with sweet meadow hay