Latest news with #Ballester
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jose Luis Ballester, who went viral at Masters for unsavory moment, joins LIV Golf
The reigning U.S. Amateur champion, Jose Luis Ballester, has made the choice to head to LIV Golf. The Spanish youngster is set for his professional debut in Virginia in the Saudi Arabia-backed league. LIV Golf announced that Ballester, who goes by Josele, signed a multi-year deal to join the league, where he will be a part of the Fireballs team led by his fellow compatriot Sergio Garcia. Ballester also joins Abraham Ancer and David Puig on the Fireballs squad. Luis Masaveu, though, loses his full-time slot with the team. "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." Not only does the 21-year-old have a connection with his new team captain, but he is also connected with Jon Rahm, another Spaniard on LIV. Their connection also involves Arizona State, the alma mater for both golfers as well as Phil Mickelson, who has been a face for LIV Golf since its inception. Ballester was able to join the Korn Ferry Tour, which is a step below the PGA Tour, after finishing third in the PGA Tour University standings this year. However, Golf Channel reported on Monday that he declined membership on that tour, beginning speculation that he might be heading to LIV. Ballester has already participated in a major, though, playing in this year's Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in April. He didn't make the cut, but he did have a viral moment after admitting he urinated in the famous Rae's Creek, which sits on the par-5 13th hole as the final leg of the three-hole "Amen Corner." Ballester said it was an emergency, but he caught a ton of flak on social media for what many believed was him being disrespectful at one of the most historic courses in the world. "I'm like, 'I really need to pee.' Didn't really know where to go, and since [Justin Thomas] had an issue on the green, I'm like, 'I'm just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me much,' and then they clapped for me. Probably one of the claps that I really got today real loud, so that was kind of funny," Ballester, who shot a 4-over 76, said after his first round. "They saw me. It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again," he said. Ballester said that he apologized for relieving himself in Rae's Creek to Augusta National officials. Ballester will join his new LIV Golf peers at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 6 for his debut round on tour. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
LIV signs one of golf's top young stars: When will Josele Ballester debut?
LIV signs one of golf's top young stars: When will Josele Ballester debut? Show Caption Hide Caption Scottie Scheffler wins Memorial at course he once watched as a fan From fan to champion, Scottie Scheffler wins the Memorial on a course he once dreamed of playing. PGA TOUR The Arizona State-to-LIV Golf pipeline has another addition. Josele Ballester, the 21-year-old reigning U.S. Amateur champion who finished his college career with the Sun Devils last week, has signed with LIV Golf and will join Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC at 2025 LIV Golf Virginia, which begins Friday. Ballester and LIV Golf have been connected for some time, dating to before his U.S. Amateur triumph last summer at Hazeltine National in Minnesota. With his amateur career in the rearview, he's turning pro and joining LIV Golf, arguably a bigger signing than any the league had in the offseason. "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 release. 'I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.' GOLFWEEK: All the latest news from around the world Ballester is the latest in a long line of Sun Devils to compete for LIV Golf, including new teammate David Puig, who also joined LIV Golf following a stellar amateur career. Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey and Matt Jones are other LIV players who played collegiately at Arizona State. He'll replace fellow Spaniard Luis Masaveu on the Fireballs' roster. Masaveu, who made the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur last year and is good friends with Ballester, will compete this week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in place of Puig, who is sidelined with an injury. Ballester won one time as a senior, taking medalist honors at the Fighting Illini Invitational in the fall. He helped Arizona State finish first after the stroke-play portion of the 2025 NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa last week, though the Sun Devils fell in the quarterfinals of match play. He finished he season ranked fifth in the NCAA golf rankings, placing T-4 at NCAAs and adding a pair of top-10 finishes in the Big 12 Championship and NCAA Bremerton Regional. Ballester finished third in the PGA Tour University Class of 2025 standings, earning a Korn Ferry Tour card in the process. By signing with LIV Golf, he forfeits that card, and everyone else gets bumped up a spot in the standings. Texas A&M's Phichaksn Maichon is the biggest benefactor, moving from sixth to fifth and earning full Korn Ferry Tour status for the remainder of the year and an exemption into the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School. He played in three PGA Tour events this season, finishing T-17 in the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld and missing the cut at the WM Phoenix Open and Masters, where he made headlines after urinating in Rae's Creek on the 13th hole, Azalea. He would end up missing the cut at Augusta National Golf Club. Ballester will tee it up next week at Oakmont in the 2025 U.S. Open, as he doesn't have to remain an amateur to use the exemption he earned for winning the U.S. Amateur. But this week, he makes his professional debut for LIV Golf.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Reigning US Amateur Champion Spurns PGA Tour for LIV Golf
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Wednesday, LIV Golf made their latest move on the players' side, and once again, it's a young star with an extraordinary future. We're talking about none other than the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, Spaniard José Luis "Josele" Ballester. On Tuesday, the X Flushing It account, which tracks global golf news, reported Ballester's move to the Saudi-backed league as "confirmed." Unsurprisingly, the Arizona State University star has been linked to the Fireballs GC team, captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia. "Reigning US Amateur Champion and sixth-ranked amateur in the world, Josele Ballester, is confirmed to be joining Fireballs GC in the LIV Golf League," Flushing It posted. Another report from the Spanish outlet El Periodigolf said this information would be officially confirmed in the coming hours. The report also stated that Ballester could make his debut with the Fireballs as soon as this weekend at LIV Golf Virginia. Both reports proved to be true, as the Fireballs GC confirmed the news on Wednesday through their social media accounts. Josele Ballester is a Fireball ⛳️ — Fireballs GC (@fireballsgc_) June 4, 2025 The Fireballs currently have a full roster with García, Luis Masaveu, David Puig, and Abraham Ancer. However, it is now reported that Masaveu's contract only covers half a season, so Ballester would replace him. Nevertheless, according to the available information, Masaveu will also play in Virginia, replacing Puig, who has had back problems for several weeks. LIV Golf has found fertile ground in Spanish golf. Prominent Spanish players like Jon Rahm and Sergio García have joined the league alongside young talents like Puig, Masaveu, and now Ballester. Jose Luis Ballester of Spain poses with the trophy after the 36-Hole Championship Match of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 18, 2024 in Chaska, Minnesota. Jose Luis Ballester of Spain poses with the trophy after the 36-Hole Championship Match of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 18, 2024 in Chaska, Ballester recently finished his time playing collegiate golf in the United States with impressive results. He added nine top-five finishes in various NCAA tournaments to his 2024 US Amateur Championship title, as well as significant amateur victories in Spain and Europe. He also earned an invitation to the 2025 Masters Tournament, where the reigning U.S. Amateur champion stole headlines, but not necessarily for the reason he might have wanted. Ballester needed to relieve himself, so he did in Rae's Creek and was spotted. The story went viral, as did his girlfriend's reaction to it. His standing in the PGA Tour University rankings earned him a Korn Ferry Tour card for the remainder of the season. However, Ballester officially rejected this option, which the golf world views as an indication that he is interested in LIV Golf. More Golf: Max Homa Ditches Caddie amid Carrying Own Bag at Painful US Open Qualifier
2 days ago
- Business
US Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain joins LIV Golf
GAINESVILLE, Va. -- 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. 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. '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.' 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. 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. 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. 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. Masaveu does not have status on any other tour and he would be banned from competing in PGA Tour events for a year after his final LIV appearance.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
US Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain joins LIV Golf
GAINESVILLE, Va. — 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. 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.
