Staff WriterSpanish golf prodigy Josele Ballester is wasting no time making headlines. Fireballs GC has locked in the highly decorated amateur on a multi-year contract, bringing a fresh jolt of youthful flair to the team’s roster. Ballester, who hails from the same sun-soaked Spanish province as team captain Sergio Garcia, will tee it up for the first time as a pro at LIV Golf Virginia presented by Maaden.
“We are very excited about Josele joining the team,” said Garcia. “Personally, 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 and I can’t wait to be with him by his side as he makes his professional debut.”
For Ballester, who currently sits at No. 6 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, this is the culmination of years of dedication and a nod to his promising future. His amateur trophy cabinet is already stacked with victories at the 2024 U.S. Amateur, 2023 European Amateur, and 2020 Spanish Amateur—no small feats for the 21-year-old from Castellón.
“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 Josele Ballester. “I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.”
Ballester’s signing sees him slot into a team brimming with Arizona State alumni. He joins Fireballs’ David Puig, along with fellow Sun Devils Jon Rahm (Legion XIII), Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), Paul Casey (Crushers GC), and Matt Jones (Ripper GC). A proud bunch of desert-hardened golfers, they’re as used to the Arizona sun as they are to pressure putts.
Ballester takes over for Luis Masaveu, who will remain in the lineup in Virginia this week as a reserve for David Puig. Puig, nursing a back injury from the final round of LIV Golf Korea, fought through the pain to make the cut at last month’s PGA Championship. That grit deserves a tip of the cap.
As Ballester steps into his full-time role and Masaveu slots in for injury insurance, Fireballs GC shows no signs of slowing down. They’re gunning for the top of the 2025 LIV Golf team standings, and with Josele Ballester now in the mix, it’s hard to bet against them.
