Jose Luis Ballester won the American amateur in 2024, giving him a place on Masters this year, but the 21-year-old first competed in the major on the famous course was overshadowed by a moment during the first round.
Ballester apparently admitted he had urinated in Rae’s Creek at Amen Corner at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday. The spanish said he “completely forgot we had these toilets to the left of the (13th) tee box” and after playing partner Justin Thomas “had a problem on the green,” he said he had benefited.
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Jose Luis Ballester plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the Masters tournament. (Peter Casey-Preferred Pictures)
But when the hours and days of the incident in question went, Ballester began to make it clear that he was ready to put the now infamous moment behind him.
“I already apologized for the club, and I think we just move on from this moment,” Ballests answered questions about whether Augusta National officials had talked to him about his actions.
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Ballester also competes in collegial ranks for Arizona State Sun Devils. He arrived Augusta National Thursday wearing a hat saying “Sun Devils” upside down.
Jose Luis Ballester Tees Off # 5 during the first round of the Masters tournament. (Kyle Terada-Preferred Pictures)
Friday did not go as planned for Ballester as he ended up missing the cut. Nevertheless, he had a positive takeaway and took advantage of the opportunity to learn from Thomas and his second partner, Scottie Scheffler, who has won two of the last three masters.
“These guys are here, especially because of how good they are around the green, how much knowledge they have, how good they are to perceive the slopes and read green,” Ballester said.
“I hit a lot of good shots with drivers and iron both days, but what I felt these guys are in a hero [different] Level from where I am around the green. “
Jose Luis Ballest and Justin Thomas shakes his hands on the 18th green during the first round of the Masters tournament. (Michael Madrid-Preferred Pictures)
Last year, amateur Neal Shipley spent his final round with five-time winner Tiger Woods.
Ballester recognized the disappointing result of the tournament, but he also expressed optimism about his future. “It was not a good week for me in that aspect, but also looks forward to the next options that I get to see how I compare myself to them,” he said.
From Saturday afternoon, Justin Rose was at the top of Masters Leaderboard of 8 under Pari. Meanwhile, Scheffler worked to move out of a four-way draw for fifth place when action from the third round played.
