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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
USA Today
03-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
This Massachusetts golf club has a lot of mystique — and that's not by design
This Massachusetts golf club has a lot of mystique — and that's not by design BREWSTER. Mass. — For its nearly 25-year history, Cape Cod National Golf Club has largely remained a mystery. When mentioned in casual conversation, it's normal to get a response to the effect of, 'Oh, so that's where it is,' or 'I didn't know there was another course in Brewster.' It's definitely not a negative reflection on Cape Cod National, nor is it by design. 'We're not trying to be flashy or showy,' General Manager and President Mike Walker said. 'We're just trying to put out a great golf experience (for our members), and when we open up the gates to bring an event like this, to extend that to whoever is coming here, and then let word and mouth do its thing.' The 18-hole championship layout sits along Route 28 in a blink-and-you-miss-it fashion. There is no sign but rather an ordinary oversized mailbox that reads 'CCNGOLF.' It's accessible to members only. While that is the case, Cape Cod National has peeled back the veil of its jewel course for some of the state's top amateur competitions over the last 15 years. It's also built one of the premier one-day high school golf tournaments in Massachusetts, one that Walker hails as one of his favorite events on the calendar. It has since played host to U.S. Amateur Championship and U.S. Women's Open qualifiers, as well as state championships, and provided a stern test for the Tri-State Matches. In 2025, it became just the 18th Massachusetts-based club to host the historic 121-year-old Griscom Cup. 'We all have to pitch in, and we like to lead by example in that, by trying to bring events out here—sometimes we offer, sometimes they ask us, but we think it's something that's important for all clubs to do,' Walker said. 'We're proud to be a championship-level golf course, and anytime we can get the best players from anywhere out here to compete, we want to do that.' The Massachusetts Golf Association knows Cape Cod National produces worthy champions and already selected it as a future host of the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. The Tri-State Matches will return to the site in 2027. Caddies Caddies have walked the fairways of Cape Cod National every summer since its inception in 1998. That was the case this week as 16 caddies went under the straps to carry bags and help Griscom Cup competitors navigate the course under championship conditions. 'It was awesome,' Monomoy senior Jackson Rocco said. 'It's kind of makes you feel like you're part of like their team. It makes you want them to win, and it gets you to work even harder.' The golfers were just as appreciative as the caddies were enthusiastic to be part of the experience with some of the top amateur players. Since 2008, 35 caddies at Cape Cod National have gone on to become Ouimet Fund Scholars and CCN Endowed Scholarship recipients, while 24 have been honorary scholars. That's a testament to the more than half a million dollars that the membership has invested into scholarships, which has made it the largest club-sponsored scholarship within the Ouimet Fund. 'It was our goal to get (caddies) out there for this event,' Cape Cod National's Head of Outside Operations Doug Comstock said. 'They sacrificed their time, came out here and crushed it.' One of Comstock's roles is to get as many caddies as possible out on any given day during the peak season. Comstock, who has been in his role for the last five seasons, gets the biggest excitement watching young kids grow up in front of his eyes — more than just the three to six inches of physical growth. 'I get to watch them become mature young men and women,' he said. 'I see them maturing mentally and getting more and more comfortable with their communication skills.' 121st Griscom Cup MassGolf overturned a six-point deficit on Day 2 of the Griscom Cup to outlast the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia last Wednesday. The team from Massachusetts won with a team score of 41 points, while Philadelphia's representation posted 35. Women's Metropolitan Golf was third with 32 points. In the Senior Inter-City Matches, the WGAP topped the table with 33.5 total points. MassGolf placed second (29) and WMGA was third (9.5). What is the Griscom Cup? The Griscom Cup is an intercity competition with a history that dates back to 1898. Today, esteemed women amateur golfers from the Massachusetts Golf Association, Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Women's Metropolitan Golf Association battle for the trophy. The annual three-year rotation began in 1903, which was one year after Boston initially competed in the competition. Allen Gunn covers high school sports for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at agunn@ and follow him on X at @allentgunn.
