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Jose Luis Ballester’s Masters Debut Sparks Controversy
During his inaugural round at the Masters, Spanish golfer Jose Luis Ballester has stirred debate after revealing he relieved himself in Rae’s Creek at Augusta National. This incident occurred as Ballester struggled through a four-over-par 76 in the company of defending champion Scottie Scheffler and former world No. 1 Justin Thomas.
Ballester faced a rocky start, making two bogeys in his first three holes and a triple-bogey at the par-four fifth. However, he managed to regain some momentum by birdieing the sixth hole and canceling out a later bogey on the 11th with a birdie on the following par-three hole.
On the par-five 13th, known as Azalea, Ballester found himself in a bind, ultimately deciding to use Rae’s Creek as an impromptu restroom before finishing the hole in par. “I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the tee box,” he stated in a candid response to reporters after his round. “When I realized I needed to go, I thought, ‘I’m just going to sneak here in the river,’ hoping not too many people would notice.”
He added, “To my surprise, they clapped for me! It was one of the louder rounds of applause I received; it was amusing rather than embarrassing. If the situation arose again, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”
Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler, aiming for his second consecutive Masters title and third in four years, achieved a respectable four-under-par 68, featuring four birdies. Historical patterns suggest that strong starts are vital, as the last six men’s major champions have been in the top four after their opening rounds, and 18 out of the last 20 Masters champions were in the top ten after the first day. Nonetheless, Scheffler downplayed the significance of a hot start, mentioning, “I don’t really think about that stuff very much. Statistically, starting well does enhance your chances, but I focus on my game.”
Scheffler elaborated on Augusta National’s unique challenges, stating, “This course presents multiple opportunities, especially over the weekend. It’s intriguing, as the difficulty can shift based on pin positioning.”
Scheffler’s successful start included an impressive 60-foot birdie on the par-three fourth hole, showcasing his skills as he ended his round with a series of pars. Justin Rose, a two-time Masters runner-up, took the lead with a remarkable seven-under-par 65, making him the player with the most first-round leads at Augusta in history.
Details on Upcoming Coverage of The Masters
Sky Sports Golf is set to provide extensive live coverage of the Masters 2025 tournament, featuring more hours of action over the final rounds than in previous years. Coverage will resume on Friday at 2 PM, including Featured Group interactions and updates leading into the global broadcast window starting at 8 PM.
A new feature this year includes a pre-Masters show live from 3 PM on the weekend, leading into full coverage at 5 PM. Viewers will also have access to various bonus feeds through Sky+, Sky Q, and Sky Glass, offering a deeper look at players competing across Augusta’s famed course layout.
Who will win The Masters? Tune in throughout the week live on Sky Sports, starting with Featured Groups on Friday from 2 PM on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream without a contract on NOW.
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www.skysports.com