Jose Luis Ballester, the victor of the 2024 U.S. Amateur and thus earning a coveted invitation to compete in this year’s Masters Tournament, experienced a challenging debut at Augusta National. While his victory secured him a place among golf’s elite, a notable incident during the first round significantly impacted his experience.
Ballester disclosed that he relieved himself in Rae’s Creek, the infamous water hazard bordering Amen Corner, on Thursday. He explained that he “completely forgot” about the nearby restroom facilities and, after playing partner Justin Thomas encountered an issue on the green, seized what he perceived as a convenient opportunity.
Despite the initial attention surrounding this episode, Ballester quickly expressed his desire to move past it.
“I already apologized to the club, and I think we just move on from this moment,”
he stated when questioned about any communication with Augusta National officials regarding the matter.
A member of the Arizona State Sun Devils collegiate golf team, Ballester arrived at Augusta wearing his “Sun Devils” hat turned upside down.
His participation in the Masters didn’t unfold as hoped; he missed the cut on Friday. However, he emphasized a positive outlook, highlighting the valuable lessons learned from playing alongside Justin Thomas and two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
“These guys are here especially because of how good they are around the greens, how much knowledge they have, how good they are at perceiving the slopes and reading greens,”
Ballester observed.
“I hit many good shots with drivers and irons both days, but what I felt that those guys are in a completely [different] level from where I am is around the greens.”
Last year, fellow amateur Neal Shipley had the unique opportunity to play alongside five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods.
Although his performance at this year’s tournament didn’t meet expectations, Ballester remained optimistic about his future prospects.
“It was not a great week for me in that aspect, but also looking forward to the next opportunities that I get to see how I compare myself with them,”
he commented.
As of Saturday afternoon, Justin Rose held the lead at 8 under par. Scheffler, meanwhile, battled to improve his position within a four-way tie for fifth place as the third round continued.
