U.S. Amateur champ plays practice round at Augusta National with three Masters champions

USA Today

08-04-2025

U.S. Amateur champ plays practice round at Augusta National with three Masters champions
AUGUSTA, Ga. – On the fifth hole of his Tuesday practice round at the Masters, Josele Ballester got word that his putter grip was non-conforming. The Super Stroke grip was old when he won the U.S. Amateur last summer, and as it continued to wear down, he used tape to hold it together. When rules officials informed him that the tape could be considered a training aid, Ballester's coaches took the putter from him on the seventh hole and hustled to get it regripped.
Ballester worked with a wedge on and around the greens until he made the turn when Alberto Ballester (no relation) handed over his now-conforming putter. It happened just in time for a trio of Masters champions – all from Spain – to join the Arizona State senior on the 10th tee for the second nine of a lifetime.
José María Olazábal won his two Masters Tournaments (1994, 1999) before Ballester was even born. Ballester was 15 years old the first time he met 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia. The pair hail from the same small city in eastern Spain, Castellon de la Plana, and text weekly. At ASU,Ballester often spends time with 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm and LPGA veteran Carlota Ciganda.
Given how often Ballester talks to Garcia and Rahm, ASU coach Matt Thurmond described the afternoon more as a reunion for the 21-year-old Spaniard.
'It was amazing,' said Ballester with a smile, adding, 'I wish I had them to tell me a little more about that front nine.'
Ballester's friend Carla Bernat Escuder won ANWA
There's been much to celebrate already this week, with Ballester's childhood friend Carla Bernat Escuder, a senior at Kansas State, becoming the first Spaniard to win the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
'I mean, she's been my best friend since I was like this tall,' said Ballester, holding his hand down low by his side.
The pair live within a mile of each other and grew up playing tennis before switching to golf. Both work with Garcia's father, Victor.
Alberto Ballester (no relation) is a former regional coach in Spain who has known the pair since they were 8 years old and was by their sides for both big wins in the U.S., as their parents were back home in Spain.
On Sunday in Augusta, they all went to Dave & Buster's, where Carla and Josele got into a heated Mario Kart battle, and they each won a round. Carla, however, edged Josele in hoops.
After Josele became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur title, Carla set out to grab a major amateur title of her own in 2025.
'No matter how good I do at Augusta during my career," said a grinning Josele, "she would always mess with me because she accomplished it first."
Josele Ballester known at ASU for big presence
Thurmond watched a teenaged Josele compete for the first time in a small town in the Czech Republic and characterized him as a man among boys. Each player on the Arizona State team has his own signature emoji, and the powerful Josele is known as the gorilla.
'First time I saw him, that's what he looked like, this silverback gorilla that was just owning the space,' said Thurmond. 'He's not necessarily the biggest guy, but he looks like the biggest guy with his presence.'
At the Mexico Open in February, Josele tied for 17th in his second PGA Tour start and led the week in driving distance at 336 yards.
In Thurmond's experience, most young players struggle more with success than failure. But that wasn't the case for Josele after he made history at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
'A lot of times when guys win a tournament like that, it's a new thing, it's uncomfortable for them and they're out of their element a bit,' said Thurmond.
'In Josele's case, I've never seen anything like it. It's like the opposite thing happened. It was like he could relax, finally.
"This is who I am; this is what I'm supposed to do.'