Masters rookie Jose Luis Ballester told reporters he would ‘do it again’ after admitting to taking a leak into Rae’s Creek at Augusta National.
Jose Luis Ballester says he would ‘do it again’ after he admitted urinating into Rae’s Creek during the first round of the 2025 Masters.
The Spanish amateur played the opening round of the first men’s major of the year alongside reigning champion Scottie Scheffler and American PGA Tour star Justin Thomas.
Ballester, 21, told reporters after hitting a 4-over 76 that he was desperate to go and forgot there were restrooms by the 13th tee box.
As his playing partner Thomas ‘had an issue’ on the green, Ballester decided to do his business in the most famous waterway in world golf.
He turned his back to the patrons, he said, but was spotted and given a round of applause.
“Didn’t really know where to go,” Ballester told reporters shortly after finishing his round.
Jose Luis Ballester
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“And since JT 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, and then they clapped for me.
“[It was] probably one of the claps that I really got today real loud, so that was kind of funny.”
Members of Augusta National will likely be unimpressed by what they saw.
Whether they will take any action against the golfer remains to be seen.
Ballester was asked about the potential blowback. “They saw me,” he said. “They saw me.
“It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.”
Ballester gained entry into the field this week by winning the U.S. Amateur.
Jose Luis Ballester
He played in his first major at the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The golfer said that he ‘loved’ the experience of playing in the marquee group despite not starting well.
“I remember when I played first my first major two years ago at The Open,” he said. “I was shaking on the first tee, and today I felt really comfortable.”
Ballester said he did not feel intimidated by playing alongside Scheffler.
“I talked to Scottie a little bit just to chat,” he said when asked if the 28-year-old shared any knowledge of Augusta.
“I’m like, okay, now that I have this VIP pass to play with these two, better to get to know them a little bit. But nothing special
