THE Spanish golfer who took a leak in Rae’s Creek has issued a grovelling apology – and promised not to do the same thing if he is caught short at the Open.
Jose Luis Ballester, the current US Amateur Champion, originally tried to brush the incident off, after he was spotted urinating into the stream that runs alongside the 13th hole at Augusta.
GettyJose Luis Ballester he was spotted urinating during The Masters[/caption]
Ballester, 21, played the first two rounds with defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and double USPGA winner Justin Thomas.
So that group was always going to be under the spotlight.
He said he needed to take “an emergency pee” at the 13th, and was cheered and applauded by Masters spectators, who saw him dive into the bushes.
He commented: “Yeah, the people saw me. But it was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.”
But he had changed his tune dramatically by the time he missed the cut, after rounds of 76-78 dropped him to ten over par.
He was clearly given a behind-the-scenes rollicking by Masters officials, and he insisted he would be on his best behaviour when he plays in the US Open in June, and at Portrush the following month.
Ballester qualified for all three Majors with his US Amateur victory in August.
He added: “I already apologised to the club, and I think we just move on from this moment. It will not happen again.
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“I know there has been a lot said about what happened on social media, but I try to stay away from all that.
“A couple of friends reached out just to say ‘Hey, you’ll be fine.’ I’m still your friend. So it’s good to have those friends that have your back when the news is not that good about you.”
Ballester, who is studying at Arizona State University and has been a two-time All American pick, has been hailed as the next great Spanish golfer.
He practised with former Masters champions Jose Maria Olazabal, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia ahead of his Masters debut – he is coached by Garcia’s father, Victor, and comes from the same town as them, Castellon.
But his week at The Masters did not start well either.
His coach at Arizona State, Matt Thurmond, was thrown off the course on Monday for wearing shorts on the driving range – a massive no-no at Augusta.
He also apologised, and was allowed to return the following day – wearing long trousers.
The ASU golf team are known as the Sun Devils. It is not hard to see why!
While Ballester left Augusta with his tail between his legs, two-time champion Berrnhard Langer departed with his head held high, after a brave attempt to reclaim his place as the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters.
Langer, 67, announced his 41st Masters would be his last before the tournament began.
The last time he made the cut here, four years ago, he was the oldest player to make it to the weekend.
But that distinction was taken from him a couple of years later by Fred Couples, who was a few months older than the German star.
The cut fell at two over this time, and at even par with four holes to play, Langer was in a great position to make it.
But his third shot at the par five 15th cruelly spun off the green into the lake in front of it, costing him a double bogey seven. And a bogey at 18 meant he missed out by just one stroke.
Langer commented: “It was very mixed emotions as I walked up 18, because I knew my ball was in a very difficult spot for me to make the par I needed to stay inside the cut line.
“I couldn’t quite achieve it, but I was still grateful for the standing ovation I received. It was a very special last two days for me.
“There were many times when I almost broke into tears. This event will always have a special place in my heart.”
Couples, 65, also went close to making the cut again, before missing out on four over par.
Other big names leaving early included five time Major champion Brooks Koepka – who was one over par before taking an EIGHT at the last – and recent Masters winners Garcia, Dustin Johnson, and Adam Scott.
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