LIV Golf signs reigning U.S. Amateur champ
Mateo Villalba
LIV Golf bolstered its roster and received an infusion of youth by signing the reigning U.S. Amateur champ.
The league announced on Wednesday that Arizona State's Josele Ballester is joining Sergio Garcia's Fireballs squad. He'll be making his pro debut this week at the LIV Golf Virginia event at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club outside Washington, D.C.
"First and foremost, I want to thank my family, coaches, friends and Arizona State University for supporting me and believing in me to make it to this step of my career,” Ballester said in a statement provided by LIV. “I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.”
The 21-year-old Spaniard ended his amateur career ranked No. 6 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He also won the 2023 European Amateur and the 2020 Spanish Amateur.
"We are very excited about Josele joining the team,” Fireballs GC captain Sergio Garcia said. “Personally, I have known him since he could pick up a golf club and he has worked with my father [Victor] as his coach throughout his golf career. Josele is going to be a great addition not only to the Fireballs but also to the LIV League and I can’t wait to be with him by his side as he makes his professional debut.”
By signing with LIV, Ballester is bypassing the PGA Tour for now. The two sides continue their ongoing negotiations after the PGA Tour rejected a $1.5 billion reunification offer from the Saudi PIF in April. Earlier in the week, Golf Channel reported Ballester had officially declined Korn Ferry Tour membership he had earned as the No. 3 finisher in the PGA Tour University rankings.
In addition to his U.S. Amateur victory at Hazeltine National last August, golf fans might remember Ballester from his Masters debut in April when he caused a bit of a stir by relieving himself in Rae's Creek during the first round. Ballester apologized to Augusta National the following day before missing the cut.