Gainesville, Virginia, United States: Highly decorated Spanish amateur Josele Ballester has joined the Fireballs GC roster on a multi-year contract.
Ballester will make his professional debut this week at LIV Golf Virginia presented by Maaden, officially stepping into a line-up led by fellow Spaniard and team captain Sergio Garcia.
“We are very excited about Josele joining the team,” said Garcia. “I have known him (Josele) 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. I can’t wait to be with him by his side as he makes his professional debut.”
Ballester, 21, is currently ranked sixth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and brings an impressive amateur resume, highlighted by victories at the 2024 US Amateur, 2023 European Amateur, and 2020 Spanish Amateur.
He was also the outstanding individual in January’s Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy in the United Arab Emirates. Although Ballester had a 100 per cent record, winning all five of his matches, he was unable to prevent the European Golf Association suffering defeat against an Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team.
Hailing from Castellón, in the same Spanish province as Garcia, Ballester continues a proud regional legacy while representing the next wave of Spanish golf talent.
“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,” said Ballester. “I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.”
Ballester joins a strong contingent of Arizona State alumni in LIV Golf, including his new Fireballs team-mate David Puig, Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson, Crushers GC’s Paul Casey, and Ripper GC’s Matt Jones.
Ballester replaces Luis Masaveu, who will remain in the line-up in Virginia this week, stepping in as a reserve player for Puig, who is sidelined with a back injury sustained during the final round of LIV Golf Korea. Despite the injury, Puig played through the pain to make the cut at last month’s PGA Championship.
