Masters Amateur Has Golf Fans Fuming Over the Hat He’s Wearing in First Round

Andy Nesbitt | Apr 10, 2025

Jose Luis Ballester plays his shot on the first hole during the first round of the Masters. / Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The first round of the 2025 Masters is off and running at Augusta National and while Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world and defending champion, has wowed the crowds with some great shots, an amateur playing in the event has annoyed fans with the hat he's chosen to wear on Thursday.

Jose Luis Ballester qualified for his first Masters by winning the U.S. Amateur last summer. He's currently a senior at Arizona State University, so he decided to wear a hat with his school's nickname "Sun Devils" on it. The only problem? It's the style of hat that has the letters upside down and backwards.

Here he is shaking hands with Scheffler on the first tee:

PGA TOUR U No. 4 🤝 World No. 1

An opportunity of a lifetime for @SunDevilMGolf senior Jose Luis Ballester @TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/Q4ycwnvvSs

— PGA TOUR University (@PGATOURU) April 10, 2025

Many fans on social media are not happy about that hat:

This hat choice by Jose Luis Ballester at #TheMasters is just outrageous

I know some local clubs that wouldn’t even allow this!#TheMasters2025 pic.twitter.com/m9qJkg5R3b

— Damien Lisi (@DamienLisi) April 10, 2025

I might be an old head, but Jose Luis Ballester showing up to his first Masters with an upside down S˥IΛƎᗡ N∩S hat is insane behavior.

— RB (@RBaroff427) April 10, 2025

Jose Luis Ballester I don’t know who you are but you have already lost wearing this hat. Egregious. pic.twitter.com/QEPhe1irCa

— Frank Cutlets (@eatin_dubs_) April 10, 2025

“Kick him off the tour Doug!”

I have no idea who this amateur Jose Luis Ballester is playing with Scottie but this hat choice is egregious. If he slows Scottie down I will never forgive him#Masters

pic.twitter.com/7twN0ykWrK

— RGF (@rgfray1) April 10, 2025

Upside down writing hat at the Masters should send you straight to jail #shrinkthegame https://t.co/CPTRoKyqd0

— Jacob Nave (@jnay77) April 10, 2025

one of the worst fits in Masters history. Gasped when I saw him on the broadcast. https://t.co/lqQqwR4cJv

— marty. (@Marty5198) April 10, 2025

That hat is disgusting https://t.co/km7RrrsRgT

— Brooksby Von Dinkelsworth (@bvondinksVFL) April 10, 2025

not good pic.twitter.com/NKO0cl3Ytx

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) April 10, 2025

Early takes:

1) Hole 5 absolutely rocking, as always. One of the best holes on the golf course

2) Ballester should’ve been escorted off the property immediately for showing up in this hat https://t.co/Vx9NTUd9i6

— Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) April 10, 2025

I still can’t get over Ballester’s choice of hat this morning. The amateur out of ASU is grouped with the best player in the world and he opts for upside down Sun Devils lid. All time. pic.twitter.com/hpuHuMrufJ

— Samuel Witwicky (@stickywitwicky) April 10, 2025

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