Spanish amateur Jose Ballester might have missed the cut at his first Masters but he has more than learned from some of the best around after playing with Scottie Scheffler.
Ballester finished at 10 over par to exit the tournament early but for the experience he had, it’s something he’ll take into the future.
Playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and a two-time major winner in Justin Thomas will have given Ballester plenty of food for thought.
Indeed, the levels those two have set over the years are why they’re so successful and speaking about the duo, Ballester has admitted he’s nowhere near them yet.
Jose Ballester shares why Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas are so good after playing with them at The Masters
Despite being disappointed to exit the tournament, Ballester was in good spirits and got onto the subject of playing alongside two greats of the game.
And when asked specifically about the experience and why both Scheffler and Thomas are so good, Ballester admitted it’s all about work around the greens.
“Yeah, definitely that these guys are here especially because of how good they are around the greens, how much knowledge they have, how good they are at perceiving the slopes and reading greens,” Ballester admitted.
“I hit many good shots with drivers and irons both days, but what I felt that those guys are in a completely level from where I am is around the greens.
“It was not a great week for me in that aspect, but also looking forward to the next opportunities that I get to see how I compare myself with them.”
Why Justin Rose thinks Justin Thomas should be winning more
With Justin Thomas not quite fully in contention to win, it does beg the question of when he will get back into contention in major tournaments.
Thomas has not won on the PGA Tour since 2022 and that was a major championship itself.
However, current leader Justin Rose believes both Thomas and good friend Jordan Spieth should be winning more.
Yeah, a little bit. I’d say me, Adam Scott, Sergio García are sort of regarded as a generation that have had longevity, still doing it, still competitive, still willing and able. Not many of us born in the ’80s are — well, ’79, ’80, I guess, Sergio, Adam and myself,” Rose said after round two.
“So yeah, you know, you look at that for sure, and then, yeah, of course, you know, all the young guys are coming up super, super quick, and there’s a new generation now.
“I’d say Jordan and Justin are in the peak of their career, I would say. They are not the young guys anymore. Whereas in the not-too-distant past they were the young bucks but now sort of the well-experienced or veterans out on tour, and there’s new guys coming up all the time.”
With Rose leading the way, he’ll be hoping big names like Thomas, Scheffler and Spieth slip up further to allow him breathing room at the top.
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