While no amateur has ever won the Masters, the tournament has a proud tradition of having top amateur players in its field every year.

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.

The 2025 Masters represents the 30th anniversary of a rather well-known golfer winning the Silver Cup as Tiger Woods, at age 19, brought home the honor. Woods was the only amateur to make the cut in 1995, and two years later, he boat raced the field to win the first of his five green jackets.