GAINESVILLE, Va. — U.S. Newbie champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain has joined LIV Golf and can make his skilled debut this week on the Saudi-funded league’s Virginia occasion.
Ballester, who goes by the nickname Josele, signed a multiyear contract, LIV mentioned Wednesday, and might be a part of the Fireballs workforce captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
“We’re very enthusiastic about Josele becoming a member of the workforce,” Garcia mentioned in a press release. “Personally, I’ve identified him since he may choose up a golf membership and he has labored with my father as his coach all through his golf profession.”
The 21-year-old Ballester lately concluded his senior season at Arizona State, the alma mater of LIV stars Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson. He completed third within the PGA Tour College standings, incomes him full standing on the Korn Ferry Tour, however Golf Channel reported Monday that he declined membership on the PGA Tour’s prime developmental circuit.
Though he missed the lower on the Masters in April, Ballester had a viral second when he relieved himself in Rae’s Creek on the par-5 thirteenth gap.
Ballester defeated Noah Kent 2 up within the 36-hole U.S. Newbie ultimate at Hazeltine final August. Though he’s turning skilled, he retains his spot in subsequent week’s U.S. Open at Oakmont because the reigning champion of the USGA’s prime novice occasion.
Ballester joins Abraham Ancer and David Puig alongside Garcia on the Fireballs. Luis Masaveu loses his full-time spot on the workforce, though he stays within the lineup this week as a result of Puig has a again damage.
Masaveu doesn’t have standing on another tour and he could be banned from competing in PGA Tour occasions for a yr after his ultimate LIV look.