José Luis Ballester, a 21-year-old amateur golfer from Spain, drew the world’s attention during his first stint at the 89th annual Masters. He is a graduate student at Arizona State University. It’s how the young golfer found himself in a curious predicament. He even got to practice with pros Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas on Augusta National’s famed 13th hole.
Ballester certainly understood nature’s urgency during that first round. After he struck his third shot on the long, par-five hole, Eagle ran all the way across the fairway. He walked over to a ledge, urinating into Rae’s Creek, which immediately got him booted as a distraction from the four galleries in place.
Speaking honestly after his round, Ballester showed no remorse over his choice. “If I had to do it again, I would do it again,” he stated, reflecting on the spontaneous act. And he confessed that he overlooked the bathrooms to the left of the tee box. Those facilities might have provided a fairly typical answer to his situation. “I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the tee box,” he explained.
For all the unorthodox style within a style shown by Ballester, the actions earned him a surprise ovation from the numerous near-capacity crowd. He was questioned about whether he felt embarrassed by being seen during his act, to which he confidently replied, “They [the crowd] saw me. They saw me. It was not embarrassing at all for me.” Yet it was perhaps his casual approach that resonated with fans and competitors as much as anything.
The Green Jackets at Augusta National love their course, but even now, they have yet to weigh in on the recent incident at the 13th hole. One thing is for certain, Ballester’s move has captured the imagination of golf fans and tournament-goers alike.
With respect to performance, Ballester completed his first round with a score of four-over-par 76. His experience at the Masters, while marked by an unusual event, highlights the unpredictable nature of golf and the unique experiences it can offer even amateur players. It’s an impressive feat that he expertly threads his way through this highly exclusive tournament. Going forward, we hold our breath wondering how the mishap will influence his play moving forward.