Latest news with #Fireballs
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
LIV continues to make inroads
THINGS are looking up for LIV Golf and there's a lot in store to unfold in the future. That's according to Phil Mickelson, a senior statesman of the circuit, who has been vocal with his praise of LIV Golf since joining in 2022, celebrating its direction and what he views as forward thinking. Mickelson applauded the addition of promising young stars as LIV Golf begins to bolster its case for having the world's best golfers, agencies reported. 'I think that we're well on our way and not that far away from making that happen, and you're seeing it with these good young players that are coming out,' the six-time major champion said. 'If you look at the good young players from different parts of the world, not necessarily the United States, you've got Jose Ballester and Luis Masaveu (both from Spain) and Tom McKibbin (from Northern Ireland), and these young guys from other parts of the world are really interested in wanting to come to LIV and they get what it's about. 'I think over time that's just going to continue to grow just like it has exponentially in the last three years, and I think we're not that far away from having it be what we all want it to be, which is all the best players in the world playing against each other.' Ballester, the US Amateur champion, signed a multi-year contract with LIV Golf this week. Known as 'Josele,' Ballester was due to make his professional debut this week at the Virginia event and be part of the Fireballs team captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia. Ballester, 21, will join Abraham Ancer, David Puig and Garcia on Fireballs. Masaveu, 22, will remain in the Fireballs lineup this week for the team while Davvid Puig, who wo the Malaysian Open last year, deals with a back injury. McKibbin, 22, signed with LIV in January and joined Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt as part of the Legion XIII team. Garcia, speaking about Ballester, said: 'We are very excited about Josele joining the team. '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.' Ballester, 21, currently is No. 6 in the Official World Amateur Golf Ranking with victories at the 2020 Spanish Amateur, 2023 European Amateur and the 2024 US Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club. He recently completed his senior season at Arizona State. '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.' Meanwhile, on the US PGA Tour, Sahith Theegala, who has missed tournaments this year because of a neck injury, confirmed on social media that he has withdrawn from this week's RBC Canadian Open and will need to rest 'for a little while'. 'Doctors have advised me to put the clubs away for a little while, as I get treatment and some rest for an injury I've been battling the last few weeks, so this one stings,' Theegala wrote on his Instagram account without specifying the injury. An ambassador representing title sponsor RBC, Theegala wrote that he is very disappointed and with 'a heavy heart' unable to one of his favourite events of the year. The RBC Canadian Open teed off Thursday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario. 'The place looks beautiful, and I've heard so many great things about the golf course and the facility overall,' he wrote.
Fox News
6 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.
Newsweek
6 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
6 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.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Phil Mickelson: LIV 'well on our way' to having world's best golfers
June 4 - Phil Mickelson has been vocal with his praise of LIV Golf since joining the upstart circuit in 2022, celebrating its direction and what he views as forward thinking. On Wednesday, Mickelson applauded the addition of promising young stars as LIV Golf begins to bolster its case for having the world's best golfers. "I think that we're well on our way and not that far away from making that happen, and you're seeing it with these good young players that are coming out," the six-time major champion said. "If you look at the good young players from different parts of the world, not necessarily the United States, you've got Jose Ballester (Spain) and Luis Masaveu (Spain) and Tom McKibbin (Northern Ireland) and these young guys from other parts of the world are really interested in wanting to come to LIV and they get what it's about. "I think over time that's just going to continue to grow just like it has exponentially in the last three years, and I think we're not that far away from having it be what we all want it to be, which is all the best players in the world playing against each other." Ballester, the U.S. Amateur champion, signed a multi-year contract with LIV Golf on Wednesday. Known as "Josele," Ballester will make his professional debut this week at the Virginia event and be part of the Fireballs team captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia. Ballester, 21, will join Abraham Ancer, David Puig and Garcia on Fireballs. Masaveu, 22, will remain in the Fireballs lineup this week for the team while Puig deals with a back injury. McKibbin, 22, signed with LIV in January and joined Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt as part of the Legion XIII team. --Field Level Media
