Jose Luis Ballester and The Creek should have been forbidden

The Masters are not your average golf tournament. Anyone who spends time on the game knows this. Augusta Nationals are based on tradition, etiquette and self-evident codes of respect. That’s why it’s really shocking when amateur Jose Luis Ballester lets himself give up his creek in the game.

Yes, that thunder stream. The historic waterway that played a role in golf’s most iconic moments. The same stream that passes through Amen Corner. Now, obviously, a 21-year-old amateur mistakenly thought of the creek in the bathroom.

Let’s take a step back. Augusta has always been proud of her hobbyists. Since the tournament was founded, it has expanded the invitations to those who prove themselves in amateur competitions. There is even a designated place to stay, with the crow’s nest hidden inside the Augusta Club. Being invited is not just an opportunity to play games. This is a passage, a symbol you rarely see in the game. You expect you to be able to rise and carry yourself accordingly.

Look at the Freddie couple. We are not talking about his behavior today. We’re talking about his incredible footage on the 14th.

Palestinian obviously doesn’t understand this. Or worse, he doesn’t care. He did nothing. Not only did he choose to relax himself in one of the most well-known water features of golf, he also showed no remorse when asked later. He claimed he didn’t know the toilet was nearby. He said he would do it again.

That’s not young ignorance. That’s arrogant.

An error occurred. I work with teenagers and twenties players. They figured things out during the course and getting off the bus. But what separates people who become real competitors from those who disappear are their reactions at the wrong time. Accountability is important. A simple apology will go a long way. A regretful statement will show that he knows his weight and what he does.

Instead, he doubled.

That’s not the only problem either. Palestinian was wearing a hat and his university’s name was reversed. It may not be a big deal for a person. But in today’s world, putting down anything comes with many symbolic luggage. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe he did it, he thought he was avant-garde. Either way, Augusta is not a place for ambiguity or stunts.

Augusta National has its own language, its own rules and its own expectations. You refer to your fans as customers. You call Sand Traps Bunkers. You will never wear shorts, and you will never wear a hat backwards. Some people laugh at these things, but they miss the point. It’s not just fashion or wording. It’s about maintaining a different atmosphere than anywhere else in the movement.

For those who kept tracking, Palestinian finished the first round with a score of 76. Except I haven’t heard a lot of people talking about his score.

For those who tell me to relieve, I say so. Leisure golf has time and place. I like to relax with my friends. I enjoyed nine as quickly as the next guy. But Augusta is not that place. If you think so, then you may not be a person who really understands what a master means, which is great. Not everyone should do this.

I love bowling, but I don’t tell professional bowlers around how to do their jobs. I didn’t compete in the national championships like I owned this place. I certainly wouldn’t treat their biggest stage like local alleys.

Jose Luis Ballester may still have a promising career. But if he wants to take it seriously, he needs to take the game seriously. It starts with respect – for the course, for the player, and the tradition of making his chances possible.

Augusta has remained quiet so far. That’s how they work. If they decide to take action, it will be quick and cautious. No press conference. No headlines. Just a message sent in your own way, this behavior has no place in the Masters.

And, if Ballester doesn’t receive that message, then maybe Augusta doesn’t need to send another invitation.