Josele Ballester learns quickly. At the Open Championship two years ago, his debut in the Majors at Royal Liverpool, he had a tough time on the way to the 1st tee. Lots of tension. Lots of nerves. He almost froze and couldn’t enjoy the moment he was living, a unique experience. This time at the Masters, he wasn’t going to let that happen.
Shortly before heading to the tee where Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas were already waiting, he played the song Pasiempre, which he started listening to at last year’s US Amateur and always brings a smile to his face. He associates it with good things. It worked again. It made him smile, and he enjoyed the short 30-metre walk from the putting green to the 1st tee like a kid. The next thing was hitting a great shot from the tee, very powerful, too much in fact due to the adrenaline, and that’s why he was left without a shot to the green and ended with a painful bogey.
Ballester started the Masters with a round of 76 strokes that really doesn’t do justice to the golf he displayed. He deserved much more. His scorecard was heavily affected by the mishap on the 5th hole. He was very unlucky, but he also admits that he must take responsibility and learn from it. His tee shot was much better than where the ball ended up, almost balanced on the edge of the bunker and without a stance for a right-hander like him. If it had opened half a metre more, it would have ended up in the middle of the fairway with a good chance to go for the green and even leave a birdie opportunity.
That’s where the bad luck ended. After that, Josele doesn’t hide and takes responsibility. He rushed and hit a bad third shot, followed by a flub that made him stop and sound the alarm. “Careful, if we keep going like this, we won’t finish… you could make a million,” he told himself. He ended with a triple bogey, and from there, from the disaster, his best version emerged. In fact, his score over the last 13 holes was a more than respectable one under par.
The shot on the 6th was crucial. He hit an exquisite shot, one of the best of the day on this always tricky par three that drops like a ski jump. He made the birdie and, in doing so, brought out all his golf. He played very well from that moment. “I leave with the feeling that I don’t have much to envy Scheffler or Thomas from tee to green. Obviously, they have much more experience playing in these settings and with so many people, that’s something I still have to learn, and it makes a difference. But I’m happy with my game,” he explains.
Josele has reasons to leave Augusta satisfied despite his +4. The truth is that the greens were very elusive for him. If he had had a slightly better putting day, he would have finished much closer to par. He deserved it. “I wasn’t accurate on the greens, and that made the difference.” The reality is that he didn’t make anything from three to five metres, a key distance in this tournament.
Ballester takes away many more good things than bad from his debut at Augusta. He has shown that he can challenge the Masters, although always with caution because it can fight back. He will fight this Friday to make the cut, and if he manages to feel comfortable on the greens, he will have a chance. Additionally, he witnessed Scheffler’s exhibition firsthand. “What can I say, it was an impeccable round. They always say he’s very calm, not very expressive, but it’s impressive to see him in person. He doesn’t miss. It’s normal for him to be so calm,” he explains.
By the way, Josele revealed that Scheffler had some conversations with him during the round, especially talking about his experience at Augusta and university. “It was nice, Justin seemed more reserved,” he concludes.
Today’s experience is taken with Pasiempre, although right now, Josele’s mind is focused on doing everything possible tomorrow to make the cut and gift himself two more rounds at the Masters.
