Josele Ballester entered Augusta National on Friday and left, upset at not being in the Masters, but convinced that this is his place and that he will soon return as a professional golfer to the green jacket tournament.
His fears did not obey a feeling of inferiority, of being surrounded by the megastars of his sport such as Scottie Scheffler or Justin Thomas, with whom he has shared two days. They were the reason for Thursday’s urination episode, when disoriented as to whether there were toilets in that area or not, he felt the need to urinate and did so in Rae’s Creek, without being aware of the phlegm that drags the world’s most selective club.
“I made a mistake and I have apologised to the club,” he admitted. “I have written a letter and I am really sorry. It’s all settled now.” But before finding the response from the Augusta National bureau he was uneasy in practice. And he only calmed down when Scheffler approached him and told him not to worry, “he was very affectionate and told me that he understood that it was very difficult to make a swing when you want to pee”
The words of the world number one calmed him down, but did not prevent him from improving his game and pursuing his goal, although none of the amateurs made the cut, which was to be the best of the amateurs. With a second round of 78 strokes he closed his experience. “I have learned many things. I think I have the game to be here for many years. I have seen myself very well with the driver, also well with the irons, but it is true that with the approach I have been horrible and with the putter I have not been good either,” he admitted. In this section, in fact, he was the worst of the 95 participants. “What worked from August to December last year, now nothing.”
He took all the notes he could from a scenario he must step on again and had seen 14 years ago on television for the first time. “It’s the first edition I remember. The one that Charl Schwartzel won,” with four birdies in the last four holes. Now he will return to Arizona State University to play the last three tournaments with the team and then announce the week in which he will turn professional, which does not have to be after the US Open, as he will play that major regardless of his status. That’s what he won the US Amateur for.
From Augusta National, in addition to being now well known for that anecdote, he leaves with the label of being a first-class hitter. Only Bryson DeChambeau, with 301 meters of average distance, surpasses his 293 meters. He has even surpassed Rory McIlroy’s missiles. In this era where hitting hard is a gift, Ballester, with 21 years, a marked biceps and a lower body not seen in golf, has much to gain.
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