Jose Luis Ballester has become the latest star to join LIV Golf.
The Spaniard, who is also known as Josele, signed a multi-year deal with the Saudi-backed venture and will join the Fireballs, who are captained by his fellow countryman Sergio Garcia.
GettyBallester will begin his professional career with LIV Golf[/caption]“We are very excited about Josele joining the team,” Garcia said in a statement.
“Personally, I have known him since he could pick up a golf club and he has worked with my father 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.”
Ballester, who played golf at collegiate level with Arizona State University, will make his LIV Golf debut on June 6 at their event in Virginia.
He joins the circuit as a highly credentialled amateur golfer having won the 2024 U.S. Amateur, the 2023 European Amateur and the 2020 Spanish Amateur.
“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,” Ballester said.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to join Fireballs GC and continue to learn from Sergio and other greats.”
Despite turning professional, Ballester will still be in the field at next week’s US Open at Oakmont thanks to his status as the reigning champion of the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) premier amateur tournament.
Although he is known in golf circles as a top amateur, fans may recognise Ballester for his infamous act at The Masters this year.
He had to relieve himself mid-round and because he didn’t share the same course knowledge of his more experienced rivals, he didn’t quite know where to go.
The Spaniard gained notoriety for urinating mid-round at The MastersGettyInstead of using a more conventional location, Ballester chose to urinate in the iconic Rae’s Creek, located 60 yards from the 13th green.
“I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the tee box,” Ballester said.
“I’m like, ‘I really need to pee.’ Didn’t really know where to go and since JT [Justin Thomas] had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much and then they clapped for me.
“[It was] probably one of the really loud claps that I got today, so that was kind of funny.”
When quizzed whether he feared any repercussions, Ballester did not appear to be overly concerned.
“They saw me, they saw me. It wasn’t that embarrassing for me,” Ballester said.
GettyRae’s Creek was the crime scene for Ballester’s cheeky act[/caption]“If I had to do it again I’d do it again.”
Ballester was not the only member from his camp to stir controversy at Augusta.
Matt Thurmond, Ballester’s coach, was removed from the practice area after he broke the golden rule which prohibits players and their trainers from wearing shorts.
“Strolled out onto the Augusta range today with my coach badge. Got removed for wearing shorts,” Thurmond wrote on X.
“First bogey of the week. Celebrated with an egg salad sandwich. Pants tomorrow.
“I went out on the range without thinking, gave [Kevin Yu] a hug.
“After about one shot and one quick hello, they came out and said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, you can’t be on the range with your shorts.’
“My bad, it was a mistake I made. I want to follow the rules here when I’m at Augusta and do everything right.”
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