The U.S. Amateur champion, José Luis Ballester, has turned professional and joins the ranks of LIV Golf. The Spanish golfer will make his debut at the Saudi-backed league event to be held this week in Virginia.Ballester, known as “Josele”, signed a multi-year contract, LIV announced on Wednesday. The player will be part of the Fireballs team, led by his compatriot Sergio Garcia.
Ballester, 21, recently finished his senior season at Arizona State University, where LIV stars like Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson also studied. He finished third in the PGA Tour University rankings, which granted him full status on the Korn Ferry Tour, although he reportedly declined membership in the PGA Tour’s development circuit.We are very excited that Josele is joining the team. Personally, I have known him since he was a child and he has worked with my father as his coach throughout his golf career.
Sergio García
Despite not making the cut at the Masters in April, Ballester starred in a viral moment.
Ballester defeated Noah Kent in the final of the US Amateur at Hazeltine last August. Although he now turns professional, he maintains his place in next week’s US Open at Oakmont as the reigning champion of the USGA’s most important amateur event.
Ballester joins Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz alongside Garcia in the Fireballs. David Puig, another Arizona State alumnus on Garcia’s team, is currently sidelined with a back injury.
