Augusta National prides itself on being golf’s most pristine sanctuary, where every blade of grass gets manicured to perfection. The tournament officials expect nothing short of absolute decorum from everyone who walks those sacred fairways. Then reality hits, and you realize that even at the Masters, basic human needs don’t follow a dress code. Josele Ballester discovered this reality during his Masters debut.

The 21-year-old Spaniard faced an urgent biological need during Thursday’s first round. Instead of locating the nearby restrooms, he chose Rae’s Creek as his relief station. Spectators witnessed the entire episode and responded with loud applause. The most touching part of this story unfolded away from the cameras.

In the recent episode of Golf Sin Etiquettes, the young golfer shared that Scottie Scheffler approached him on the putting green on Friday with genuine concern. The world No. 1 had heard about the incident from his wife, Meredith, before bed.

“So, tell me what happened yesterday,” Scheffler asked the nervous amateur. “I was about to go to bed and my wife told me that the young man I was playing with had a little trouble on the 13th hole.” After hearing the full story, Scheffler offered words that transformed embarrassment into encouragement. “Man, don’t worry. All the players are here ‘by your side’. And people don’t fully understand that you can’t hit a shot when you’re peeing on yourself. Today, go out and enjoy yourself and try to forget about it.”

The defending Masters champion then embraced Ballester like an older brother offering support. This moment of brotherhood came at the perfect time for the Spanish star. You see, he had made history by becoming the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur Championship. He claimed victory on his 21st birthday at Hazeltine, securing his coveted spot at Augusta National. However, the Masters proved far more challenging than anticipated.

Josele Ballester’s Masters debut experience

He struggled from the opening tee shot, carding a disappointing 76 in the first round while playing alongside Scheffler and Justin Thomas. The pressure of competing at golf’s most prestigious venue clearly affected his performance, though he managed to par the 13th hole despite the unusual circumstances.

SB Nation’s Jack Milko witnessed the infamous incident, noting how Ballester “sprinted toward the tributary and urinated about 60 yards short of the green.” Initially, Ballester showed no remorse. “It was not embarrassing at all for me,” he told reporters after Thursday’s round. “If I had to do it again, I would do it again.” 

Unfortunately, Friday brought more struggles for the Arizona State graduate. He followed his opening 76 with an even worse 78, missing the cut by eight shots. The weight of expectations and the viral nature of his bathroom break clearly took their toll. The incident created headlines around the globe, something Ballester sounded like he regretted on Friday at Augusta. “I already apologized to the club,” he noted after his second round, and “I think we just move on from this moment.”

Now, it’s all in the past now, it seems. Since turning professional, he has joined LIV Golf’s Fireballs team alongside mentor Sergio García. While his first Masters didn’t unfold as planned, the Spanish golfer discovered something more valuable than a good score – the true spirit of sportsmanship that makes golf special.