U.S. Amateur Champion, Josele Ballester, Joins LIV Golf's Fireballs Team Roster
Fresh Spin:
"Sensationally, Josele Ballester, the 21-year-old sensation who clinched the 2024 U.S. Amateur title, has joined Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC team in the LIV Golf League!
This highly-anticipated move means Ballester, a former star at Arizona State University, is swapping his amateur days for the professional limelight, debuting at LIV Golf Virginia this weekend.
Ballester will replace Luis Masaveu, who signed a half-season contract on his joining the team during the off-season, but only once David Puig recovers from a nagging back injury.
Masaveu, having briefly filled in at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, seems likely to stay on as a reserves while pursuing starts on the Asian Tour.
Captain Garcia expressed his excitement: "Josele joining the team is fantastic news! I've known him since he was swinging his first golf club, and he's trained under my father, Victor, throughout his career. He's going to be a fantastic addition both to Fireballs and the LIV Golf League."
Rumors about Ballester's decision started to circulate earlier this week following reports from Golf Channel. Later, ElperiodiGolf.com confirmed that Ballester was set to join LIV and would replace Masaveu ahead of the weekend.
Upon officially joining LIV, Ballester, whose amateur victories include the 2020 Spanish Amateur and 2023 European Amateur, shared his sentiments: "I'd like to thank my family, coaches, friends, and Arizona State for their unwavering support and faith in me. I'm thrilled to join the Fireballs and continue to learn from Sergio and other legends."
Ballester, hailing from Castellon—like Garcia—has cherished Garcia as a mentor since childhood, and Garcia's father, Victor, has been his coach for years. They even share the same mental coach with Joaquin Niemann.
As Ballester joins LIV, he adds to the trio of Sun Devils competing on the 54-hole circuit, joining the likes of Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Matt Jones, Jon Rahm, and Puig, all of whom are former ASU students."
Bonus Info:
- Josele Ballester is a 21-year-old Spanish golfer who has impressed in his amateur career with victories at the U.S. Amateur, Spanish Amateur, and European Amateur. After finishing third in the PGA Tour University rankings, he declined a Korn Ferry Tour membership offer to join LIV Golf, drawn by the financial incentives and professional platform it offers[1][2][3].
- Ballester's coach, Victor Garcia, is also Sergio Garcia's father, adding a personal bond between the young player and his captain[1].
- Ballester remains eligible for the U.S. Open as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, having competed at the Masters in 2025[3].
- Golf and sports are intertwined in Josele Ballester's life, with his father, Victor Garcia, coaching him and his captain in the LIV Golf League, Sergio Garcia, also being a renowned golfer.
- Josele Ballester has traded his amateur days in golf for the professional limelight, switching to LIV Golf and joining Garcia's Fireballs GC team, a move that brings him closer to his childhood mentor, Sergio Garcia.
