José Luis Ballester won the 2024 American amateur, which gave him a place in the Masters this year, but the first time that the 21 -year -old competed in the older one in the famous course was eclipsed for a moment during the first round action.
Ballester apparently admitted that he had urinated at Rae’s Creek in Amen Corner at the Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday. The Spanish said that “he completely forgot that we had those bathrooms to the left of the (13th) box of Tee”, and after playing fellow Justin Thomas “he had a problem in green,” he said he had taken advantage of.
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José Luis Ballester plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the Masters tournament. (Peter Casey-Imagn images)
But as the hours and days after the incident in question passed, Ballester began to make it clear that he was ready to leave behind the moment now infamous.
“I apologized to the club, and I think we only passed this moment,” Ballester replied to questions about whether Augusta’s national officials had talked about their actions.
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Ballester also competes in the university ranks for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He arrived in Augusta National on Thursday with a hat that said “Sun Devils” upside down.
José Luis Ballester takes away the no. 5 during the first round of the Masters tournament. (Kyle Terada-Imagn images)
Friday was not according to the plan for Ballester, since it ended up losing the cut. However, he had a positive conclusion and took the opportunity to learn from Thomas and his other partner, Scottie Scheffler, who has won two of the last three teachers.
“These guys are here, especially because of how are around the greens, how much knowledge they have, how good they are to perceive the clues and read green,” said Ballester.
“I hit many good shots with drivers and irons in both days, but what I felt that these guys are completely [different] level from where I am around the green. “
José Luis Ballester and Justin Thomas give their hands in Green 18 during the first round of the Masters tournament. (Images of Michael Madrid-Imagn)
Last year, the fan Neal Shipley spent his last round with the five -time winner Tiger Woods.
Ballester recognized the disappointing result in the tournament, but also expressed optimism about his future. “It was not a great week for me in that aspect, but I also look forward to the upcoming opportunities I can see how I compare with them,” he said.
Until Saturday afternoon, Justin Rose was at the top of the Masters classification table at 8 under par. Meanwhile, Scheffler was working to move from a four -way draw for fifth place as a third round action was developed.
