Spanish upstart snubs PGA Tour to join Sergio Garcia’s LIV Golf team

He made headlines during the Masters for all the wrong reasons. Now the promising youngster has turned pro and joined the Fireballs. But who will he replace?

When Jose Luis Ballester turned down the opportunity to join the Korn Ferry Tour last week, he seemed destined for one place.

Now it’s been confirmed after the Arizona State alumnus put pen to paper on a deal with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia’s LIV Golf team.

The 21-year-old had a highly-decorated career in the unpaid ranks – most notably winning last year’s US Amateur to book a spot at Augusta, where he made headlines for urinating in Rae’s Creek after being caught short during his opening round of his major debut.

And despite an offer from the PGA Tour to join its second tier, Ballester has decided the lure of LIV Golf’s riches – and the chance to be a Fireball – was too good to refuse, and he will tee off his professional career at this week’s event in Virginia.

“We are very excited about Josele joining the team,” Fireballs captain Sergio Garcia said. “Personally, I have known him since he could pick up a golf club and he has worked with my father 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.”

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Ballester, who was ranked 6th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before he turned pro, added: “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.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.” 

Ballester will replace another Spaniard, Luis Masaveu, in the Fireballs lineup – though Masaveu, who has just one top-20 from seven starts in his debut season on LIV, will continue as a reserve until injured teammate David Puig recovers from an ongoing back problem.

The decision to turn pro means Ballester is no longer eligible to compete in the 125th US Open at Oakmont, or the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush as the reigning US Amateur champion. Both those competitions, as well as the Masters, require the golfer to retain their amateur status for the duration of the tournament.