The Loop

Man responsible for pimento cheese sandwich at Augusta National has died

August 05, 2015

The name Nick Rangos likely won't resonate with many, but he was to a sandwich as Gene Sarazen was to a sand wedge.

Rangos was the man responsible for the renowned pimento cheese recipe used in sandwiches at Augusta National Golf Club during the Masters. Rangos, 86, died on Aug. 1, the Aiken (S.C.) Standard has reported.

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Jamie Squire

(Getty Images)

"At the outset, he was just doing it to provide a living for his family," his son Billy once told ESPN. "But at some point, the pimento cheese did become somewhat famous. He took a great deal of pride in knowing that.There were several articles written over the years about my dad's pimento cheese, and he really enjoyed reading those. He had a smile on his face when he saw those articles."

Aiken Standard writer Dede Biles wrote that "Billy believes Augusta National's policy of making the pimento cheese sandwiches fresh every day helped enhance the filling's flavor."

His recipe was used for the sandwiches for more than 40 years before it was replaced by what many claimed was an inferior product.

"For as long as people can remember, a man in Aiken, S.C., made and mixed the cheese himself," Wright Thompson of ESPN the Magazine wrote two years ago. "Ten or so years ago, the tournament decided to get Wife Saver to make the sandwiches. The old man, obviously mad about losing the business, refused to give the tournament the recipe."

He wouldn't provide it to the Aiken Standard, either, and now, apparently, Rangos has taken it to his grave.