Coach of Masters debutant who urinated on course 'removed' from Augusta after breaking strict rule
A golf coach who was ‘removed’ from the Masters course has released a statement clearing up the situation.
The Masters is currently taking place at Augusta National with Justin Rose leading the pack after Thursday’s first round.
Earlier this week, Arizona State University golf coach Matt Thurmond, who works with Jose Luis Ballester, was ‘removed’ from the course after he broke one of the course’s rules.
On Monday, while walking onto the driving range, Thurmond appeared to forget Augusta’s ‘no shorts’ rule, which applies on competition and practice days.
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He tried to walk towards Kevin Yu, but a course official stepped in which prompted the coach to later release a statement on X.
"Strolled out onto the Augusta range today with my coach badge,” Thurmond wrote on X. “Got removed for wearing shorts.
"First bogey of the week. Celebrated with an egg salad sandwich. Pants tomorrow.”
He then went on to explain how he simply “made a mistake”.
"I went out on the range without thinking, gave [Yu] a hug,” the coach explained. “After about one shot and one quick hello, they came out and said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, you can’t be on the range with your shorts.’
"My bad, it was a mistake I made. I want to follow the rules here when I’m at Augusta and do everything right. Lucky to be here and appreciate everything here. I just made a mistake."
However, Thurmond went on to delete the post and backtracked with another statement.
"I did not get removed from the grounds of Augusta National for wearing shorts," he wrote on X on Thursday.
"I’ve been on the grounds the entire week.
"I was simply reminded that if wearing shorts (like thousands of other spectators) I can’t go on to the driving range tee even with the Coach badge."
Why fans called for Jose Luis Ballester disqualification
Ballester, 21, hit the headlines during the competition's first round after he "urinated into the tributary some 60 yards short of the green" at the 13th hole, according to Sports Illustrated.
"With his back to the grandstand that is behind the 14th tee, Ballester did his business and then got a loud round of applause from the spectators who figured out what was going on," the outlet explained.
However, the Spaniard gave his take on the situation shortly after the close of play.
“Well, I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the tee box,” said Ballester.
“And then I’m like, I really need to pee. Didn’t really know where to go, and since JT had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much, and then they clapped for me."
Topics: Golf
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