U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain joins LIV Golf
U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain has joined LIV Golf and will make his professional debut this week at the Saudi-funded league's Virginia event.
Article content
Ballester, who goes by the nickname Josele, signed a multiyear contract, LIV said Wednesday, and will be part of the Fireballs team captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
Article content
Article content
'We are very excited about Josele joining the team,' Garcia said in a statement. '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.'
Article content
The 21-year-old Ballester recently concluded his senior season at Arizona State, the alma mater of LIV stars Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson. He finished third in the PGA Tour University standings, earning him full status on the Korn Ferry Tour, but Golf Channel reported Monday that he declined membership on the PGA Tour's top developmental circuit.
Article content
Although he missed the cut at the Masters in April, Ballester had a viral moment when he relieved himself in Rae's Creek on the par-5 13th hole.
Article content
Ballester defeated Noah Kent 2 up in the 36-hole U.S. Amateur final at Hazeltine last August. Although he is turning professional, he keeps his spot in next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont as the reigning champion of the USGA's top amateur event.
Article content
Ballester joins Abraham Ancer and David Puig alongside Garcia on the Fireballs. Luis Masaveu loses his full-time spot on the team, although he remains in the lineup this week because Puig has a back injury.
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
20 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
World Cafe Live Saved from Closure With New Leadership, Vision, and Funding Campaign Aimed to Transform Iconic Philadelphia Venue
World Cafe Live Faces the Music — and Fights Back with Comprehensive Rescue Plan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - In a dramatic turn of events, World Cafe Live, Philadelphia's beloved nonprofit music venue and cultural hub, has been pulled back from the brink of closure. Earlier this year the landmark institution was rescued by Joe Callahan, a proud Philadelphia native, who has stepped in to lead World Cafe Live into a bold new chapter. As part of this revitalization effort, World Cafe Live has launched the 'Save The World Cafe Live' campaign, a $10 million fundraising initiative designed to stabilize, transform, and reignite the venue as a future-facing cultural force. The campaign is currently underway. You can support directly at World Cafe Live or through The Bean Foundation. 'This is more than saving a building — it's about protecting a cornerstone of Philadelphia's creative soul,' said Joe Callahan, now CEO of World Cafe Live. 'We're not just preserving a music venue. We're building a next-generation platform for artists, audiences, and community innovation.' Founded in 2004 and established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2010, World Cafe Live has hosted over 20,000 performances and impacted more than 300,000 youth and educators through music education programs. Yet despite this legacy, the venue now faces $6 million in accumulated debt due to pandemic-related disruptions and systemic underfunding. The 'Save The World Cafe Live' campaign outlines a comprehensive investment strategy aimed at both stabilizing and future-proofing the organization. Of the total goal, $6 million will be used for debt relief to eliminate long-term liabilities and reduce creditor risk. An additional $2 million is dedicated to recruiting and empowering a high-performing executive leadership team capable of guiding the organization through a transformative era. Another $1 million will support the development of cutting-edge digital infrastructure, including immersive media programming and metaverse performance initiatives. To ensure ongoing artistic and community impact, $500,000 will fund artist residencies and educational outreach, while the final $500,000 will be invested in operational efficiency and sustainability improvements designed to streamline internal systems and reduce long-term costs. 'This is a moment of rebirth,' Callahan continued. 'We're bringing in fresh executive leadership, embracing digital innovation, and recommitting to the mission that made World Cafe Live a vital part of Philadelphia's identity.' At the heart of this transformation is a renewed commitment to equity, technology, and community access, including immersive digital performance environments and expanded education initiatives aimed at underserved youth. 'We're determined to preserve World Cafe Live as a home for the arts in Philadelphia, but we need the community's voice, partnership, and philanthropy to do it,' Callahan said. 'Every donation is a step toward not just saving WCL, but future-proofing it.' 'Joe is a hometown guy with a deep personal connection to Philadelphia — not just as a leader, but as a music lover. When he introduced himself to the board, his emotion and authenticity made a lasting impact. That kind of passion is what World Cafe Live needs right now.' — Supporter, World Cafe Live Board Meeting 'This is where we saw Adele for the first time. Where Billie Eilish gave a goosebump-inducing early performance. And where countless Philly musicians got their first big break. That's what we're fighting for — a place where music lives, legacies begin, and communities come together.' 'This truly is a rescue — a big-time one — and it's worth rooting for. We can't assume the public knows what World Cafe Live means to this city, but once they do, we know they'll want to be part of saving it.' World Cafe Live's mission remains to 'open doors to music and culinary experiences that create connections, inspire learning, and celebrate who we all are.' Now, with a clear plan and visionary leadership, the organization is poised to expand that mission for decades to come. To support the campaign and learn more, visit the Beans Foundation website. Or contribute directly at the Word Cafe Live website. About World Cafe Live World Cafe Live is a nonprofit independent music venue, arts incubator, and community space located in Philadelphia. Since opening its doors in 2004, WCL has become a hub for live music, education, and cultural connection, bridging generations, genres, and communities through the power of the arts.
Globe and Mail
21 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Why AST SpaceMobile Stock Is Skyrocketing This Week
Shares of AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) are moving higher this week, up 33.9% as of 2 p.m. ET from last Friday's close. The gain comes as the S&P 500 gained 1.5% and the Nasdaq-100 gained 2.2%. Earlier in the week, a board member posted a picture to social media that fueled speculation of a possible partnership with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. The stock also received a boost after yesterday's public spat between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. A possible partnership After Bezos visited the company's Texas headquarters, AST board member Adriana Cisneros posted a picture of Bezos, AST CEO Abel Avellan, and herself to Instagram with the caption, "Amazing things are happening at AST & Science + Blue Origin." This fueled speculation that Blue Origin, Bezos' space exploration company, could be looking to create a closer relationship with AST. The company already has a contract with AST to launch 45 satellites, but a more formal partnership would be a game changer for AST SpaceMobile. Musk and Trump fall out Elon Musk and President Donald Trump escalated a public spat yesterday. What began when Musk took to X to criticize Trump's flagship "Big, Beautiful Bill" quickly turned personal and included Trump threatening to cancel contracts with Musk's SpaceX. If this were to happen, it could leave the door open for AST SpaceMobile to, at least partially, fill the void. This is all speculation; nothing is concrete. That being said, both of these possibilities represent a huge upside for AST. For investors with a high risk appetite, AST can be a solid pick. However, be aware that there is a significant risk. The company has a long way to go to justify its valuation. Should you invest $1,000 in AST SpaceMobile right now? Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $674,395!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $858,011!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is997% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to172%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025
CTV News
22 minutes ago
- CTV News
Phil Mickelson says 2025 U.S. Open will be his last
Phil Mickelson hits his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament in Norton, Mass., on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. (AP / Stew Milne) Not wanting to close all doors, six-time U.S. Open runner-up Phil Mickelson admitted that next week probably will be his last chance at winning the event that has brought him so much heartache. Mickelson has won six major championships, including the Masters three times, and showed in 2021 that he does have the ability to pull off surprises. He won the PGA Championship at age 50 that came with the added perk of a five-year U.S. Open exemption. That exemption package expires this year when the U.S. Open arrives next week to Oakmont Country Club, just outside of Pittsburgh. So is this the last chance to earn the elusive trophy that just slipped from his grasp in runner-up finishes in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013? Will he get another chance to complete a career grand slam? 'I haven't thought about it too much,' Mickelson said before this weekend's LIV event in Virginia. 'There's a high likelihood that it will be, but I haven't really thought about it too much.' There are ways Mickelson can find his way into the U.S. Open field beyond this year. For starters, he can go through the grueling qualifying process. And the USGA always can grant him an exemption like it did in 2021. He also can get there by leading LIV's player standings at the end of the current year. He went into the Virginia event in 15th place. Mostly, though, Mickelson says he hasn't thought about his U.S. Open future. Or he has and he doesn't care to reveal his thinking just yet. He even says he is undecided about his LIV career. 'As far as my playing schedule, I don't know the answer to that,' Mickelson said. " ... I don't have a great answer for you. I'm also going to be 55 in a couple weeks, so I want to be realistic there, too." While Mickelson says he isn't sure if he is willing to go through the qualifying process for future, U.S. Opens, he is far more clear on his expectations in order to continue his LIV playing days. He is captain of the LIV team HyFlyers and holds the position in high regard. 'I want this team to succeed. I don't want to hold it back,' he said. 'If I'm not an asset, if I'm not helping, if I'm holding it back, then it's time for me to move on and get somebody else in here who is going to really help the team win and succeed. This year I've played better.'
