Masters rookie commits big no-no (!) at Augusta National: “If I had to do it again, I would do it again”

Masters debutant Jose Luis Ballester told reporters he had no regrets after revealing he relieved himself in Rae’s Creek during the first round of the 2025 Masters, even saying he’d “do it again.”

 

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.

 

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 earned his spot in this week’s tournament by winning the U.S. Amateur.

 

He previously made his major debut at the 2023 Open Championship held at Royal Liverpool.

 

Despite a rough start, he said he “loved” being part of a high-profile group this time around.

 

“I remember playing in my first major two years ago at The Open,” he recalled. “I was shaking on the first tee, but today I felt really at ease.”

 

Ballester mentioned he didn’t feel overwhelmed playing alongside Scottie Scheffler.

 

When asked if Scheffler offered any tips about Augusta, he said, “I just chatted with Scottie a bit—figured since I had this VIP chance to play with guys like him, I might as well get to know them. But nothing too deep.