Jose Luis Ballester, the 21-year-old reigning U.S. Amateur champion from Spain, was playing in his first Masters yesterday, and even had the honor of being paired with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in Thursday’s first round.
So how did he commemorate his first time playing at Augusta National?
He decided he needed to urinate in the famous Rae’s Creek at the 13th hole.
“I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the tee box,’’ Ballester explained. “And then I’m like, I really need to pee. Didn’t really know where to go, and since JT (Justin Thomas, the other player in the group) had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much.’’
But people did see.
“And then they clapped for me,’’ Ballester said. “Probably one of the claps that I really got today — real loud — so that was kind of funny.’’
Asked if he was concerned there might be some blowback from tournament officials, Ballester said, “They saw me. It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.’’
It wasn’t the only questionable move from Ballester’s first round.
He also took heat from golf fans for his hat, which with his school’s nickname “Sun Devils” on it with the letters upside down and backwards.
This hat choice by Jose Luis Ballester at #TheMasters is just outrageous
I know some local clubs that wouldn’t even allow this!#TheMasters2025 pic.twitter.com/m9qJkg5R3b
— Damien Lisi (@DamienLisi) April 10, 2025
Ballester finished with a 4-over-par 76 in the round.