Josele Ballester rejoiced in his crowning achievement as an amateur golfer. In February, he upset the field to win the Saudi International — his first professional victory! The event concluded with Ballester delivering an impressive final round of 6-under 65, securing a three-shot lead over his competitors. He won the championship handily, finishing at 22-under 262. This accomplishment makes him a must-watch as one of the most emerging deep talents in the sport.
Prior to his victory in the Saudi International, Ballester was already on a good run of form with two top-10s in six starts. He played collegiate golf at Arizona State University, sharpening his craft and forging himself for the pro golf circuit. Ballester didn’t stop there in his adventurous academic pursuits. Last summer, he accompanied the Fireballs roster on LIV Golf, receiving firsthand experience competing at those higher levels.
Over the course of the winning round at the Saudi International, Ballester showed calmness and steadiness. His closing 6-under 65 was a dramatic exclamation point to winning the championship under pressure from a strong field of competitors. Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Yosuki Asaji of Japan made lovely arguments. They were never able to make up any ground on Ballester’s lead. Vincent and Asaji each earned two-year exemptions on LIV Golf for next season. They applied their amazing skills to come out at the top of the leaderboard.
For the uninitiated, Anthony Kim—with and without the aid of a shovel—has hugely influential comeback to the golf world after a 12-year absence. His tie for fifth…behind eight shots Ballester. This was Kim’s best finish since his comeback to professional golf on LIV Golf last season. Caleb Surratt put together an impressive showing, finishing three shots back of Ballester.
The Saudi International brought to a close the International Series on the Asian Tour. The past two weeks in East Tennessee was an incredible ride, featuring the best young talent in our sport. Scott Vincent featured on LIV Golf 2024. He experienced his own relegation by placing 50th in the final standings, removing him from contention for more lucrative chances in the Saudi-bought circuit.
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