2024 U.S. Am champ Jose Luis Ballester created a new conversation at Augusta National
4/13/2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
To pee or not to pee at Augusta National - that is the question. And everyone had opinions on the matter
The 2024 U.S. Amateur champion and current Arizona State standout Jose Luis Ballester made headlines at the 2025 Masters Tournament, but not in the way you may be thinking.
He didn't finish as the low amateur or break any amateur records. Nope, he just "relieved" himself in Raes Creek.
And everyone chimed in on the matter.
Ballester, who is ranked No. 10 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings, made the field as the U.S. Amateur champion and missed the cut after shooting rounds of 76-78 to finish 10-over.
However, it was his way of using the restroom in the first round that got all the headlines and made him go viral on social media.
He urinated in Rae's Creek at Amen Corner at on Thursday. The Spaniard said he "completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the (13th) tee box" after he said his playing partner Justin Thomas "had an issue on the green."
"I already apologized to the club, and I think we just move on from this moment," Ballester told media in response to if Augusta National officials have reached out to him.
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
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