Jose Luis Ballester won the 2024 American amateur, who gave him a place for the Masters this year, but the first time the major the major on the famous course was overshadowed by a moment during the action in the first round.
Ballester apparently admitted that he had urinated in Rae’s Creek in Amen Corner in Augusta National Golf Club Thursday. The Spaniard said that he “had completely forgotten that we had these toilets to the left of the (13th) Tee Box”, and after playing the partner Justin Thomas “had a problem on green,” he said he had taken advantage.
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Jose Luis Ballester plays his shot from the first tee in the first round of the Masters tournament. (Images Peter Casey-Imagn)
But over the hours and days that followed the incident in question, Ballester began to indicate that he was ready to put the now infamous moment behind him.
“I have already apologized to the club, and I think we are simply going to this moment,” Ballester answered questions about the question of whether the national officials of Augusta had told him about his actions.
Notable players who missed the Masters Cup, including Angel Cabrera in his return Augusta
Ballester also participates in the college ranks of the Sun Devils of Arizona State. He arrived in Augusta National Thursday with a hat that said “Sun Devils” upside down.
Jose Luis Ballester get t-shirts on no. 5 During the first round of the Masters tournament. (Images Kyle Terada-Imagn)
Friday did not go as planned for Ballester, because he ended up missing the cup. Nevertheless, he had a point to remember positive and took the opportunity to learn from Thomas and his other partner, Scottie Scheffler, who won two of the last three masters.
“These guys are here, especially because of their quality with the Greens, the quantity of knowledge they have, their quality to perceive the slopes and read the Greens,” said Ballester.
“I struck a lot of good shots with the drivers and the irons the two days, but what I felt that these guys are completely [different] The level from which I am is around the Greens. “”
Jose Luis Ballester and Justin Thomas shake hands on the 18th green in the first round of the Masters tournament. (Images of Michael Madrid-Imagn)
Last year, amateur Neal Shipley spent his last lap with the five -time winner Tiger Woods.
Ballester recognized the disappointing result during the tournament, but it also expressed its optimism about its future. “It was not a great week for me in this aspect, but also impatiently the next opportunities that I see how I compare myself with them,” he said.
Saturday afternoon, Justin Rose was at the top of the masters ranking at 8 sous. Meanwhile, Scheffler worked to leave four for fifth place when the third -round action was played.
