Spanish amateur Jose Luis Ballester caused a few raised eyebrows at the The Masters Tournament 2025. At first it was just the upside-down writing on his cap that caused piqued reactions, but then the US Amateur Champion made an even bigger faux pas. Because when he simply couldn’t keep up in Amen Corner, he relieved himself without further ado in Rae’s Creek. Especially at Augusta National Golf Club, where etiquette is very important and even smartphones and sitting on the ground are prohibited, this does not go down well.
The Masters Tournament 2025 Amateur: “I really had to pee”
He himself takes it casually and with a pinch of humor. “I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the 13th tee box. I’m like, I really need to pee. Didn’t really know where to go, 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. Probably one of the laudest claps that I really got today, so that was kind of funny.”
He is not afraid of any repercussions. “It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.” Ballester was in a flight with Justin Thomas and defending champion Scottie Scheffler and played a round of 76.
Zum Leaderboard des US Masters 2025
José Luis Ballester explained why he urinated in Rae’s Creek during today’s opening round of the Masters. pic.twitter.com/4CduoJScId — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 10, 2025