The meeting is at the 10th tee. Each with their own story. Jon Rahm has just spoken to the press, Josele Ballester has completed the first nine holes, Sergio García is coming from his first session at the practice range, and José María Olazábal has just hit his 6,325th ball of the week, give or take. Each doing their own thing, but without forgetting traditions. They are four, like the musketeers, one for all and all for one. Spaniards have always looked after Spaniards at the Masters Tournament. Perhaps that’s why, among other things, since the great Seve Ballesteros, our golf has been so successful in this wonderful setting. Surely that’s why, among other things, the Green Jackets stand to attention when they see a Spaniard pass by.
The four Spaniards play nine holes together. The back nine. Half a practice round. The meeting is sacred. Neither Jon, nor Sergio, nor Olazábal lack ‘suitors’ to play nine holes in Augusta, but first things first. This is the legacy, and no one lets Seve down. It has always been this way and should continue to be so until the end of time, no matter how much times change.
The anticipation is immense. The match can be followed, but it’s hard to see the shots clearly. You have to get ahead and accept that you will miss moments. Choices must be made. It’s a continuous dilemma. But it’s enjoyable. After all, it’s a legendary practice round. Five Major winners have gathered in a small patch of land (four Masters and one US Open), a Ryder Cup points record, a Prince of Asturias Award, a Ryder Cup-winning captain with a miracle included, and a US Amateur winner. And this is just off the top of the head. Museum-worthy.
Olazábal and Sergio enjoy every minute, Jon too, although his expression is more serious, more focused, nothing unusual for the Basque in practice rounds at the Majors. The tough test is for Ballester. Everything is new for him, and he’s surrounded by three super champions. Three idols. A challenging task. His monstrous drives are the stars. They provoke astonishment and laughter. A nervous laugh that means: “Did you really see that?”
Josele passes the test with flying colours. He has managed to enjoy it, he has learned, but he doesn’t feel like he’s going to bed with an information overload. He listened to everyone and digested what he really understood could benefit him. He focused more on Sergio than on Olazábal and Jon, mainly because he knows him better and feels his golf is more similar.
“I tried to keep my ears wide open. First, listen, and then try to take the information in a way that I think can help me. I’m quite creative, and I think that fits a bit with the way Sergio approaches certain shots. I feel I can identify more with him in some aspects than with Jon, but at the end of the day, it’s information, and it’s about how you apply it when it really matters. It was something very special, especially around the green. All the knowledge they could share with me was very valuable, and hopefully, I can put it into practice on Thursday and Friday,” Josele says with tremendous maturity. It’s not about learning for the sake of learning or going crazy, but knowing how to take the right dose.
As we say, the first test, the legendary round, is passed. Now he faces the second, even more difficult. The good thing is he knows it. Thursday and Friday. “As Sergio says, I’ve tried to have as much fun as possible. It’s a unique place, especially for an amateur, so I’m trying to absorb everything I can. With all the people who will be in my group, since I’m playing with Scottie Scheffler on Thursday and Friday, if I can avoid getting distracted by what’s happening outside and really embrace the moment, I think that’s when I can play my best golf.” That’s the goal, and he has it clear 36 hours before the tournament starts.
