Report: Sergio Garcia set to announce mid-season LIV Golf signing

LIV Golf are reportedly on the verge of announcing their first mid-season signing. 

According to Spanish golf journalist Hugo Costa, Jose Ballester is close to joining the PIF-backed league after rejecting a pathway that would've led to the PGA Tour. 

Ballester was eligible to play on the Korn Ferry Tour but has reportedly turned down membership. 

The 21-year-old won the 2024 U.S. Amateur and was linked with Sergio Garcia's Fireballs over the summer. 

Garcia decided to bolster his quartet with the acquisition of Luis Masaveu after he ditched Eugenio Chacarra. 

Chacarra later criticised LIV Golf, saying the circuit didn't offer too much for him besides money. 

Masaveu has failed to make an impact this year. 

The 22-year-old is currently 44th in the individual standings and reportedly only penned a contract that would take him to the halfway stage of the 2025 campaign. 

Costa reported that the PGA Tour have confirmed Ballester turned down Korn Ferry Tour membership. His representatives have declined to comment on his future. 

Ballester had earned that status by finishing third in the PGA Tour University rankings. 

The popular X account, FlushingIt, has claimed that the deal is done and Masaveu will play the rest of the season as a reserve. 

Ballester would therefore slide right in as David Puig is currently injured.

If the report turns out to be true then it is of no surprise given Garcia's ties to Ballester. His father, Victor, coached Ballester at Arizona State University. 

LIV Golf are back in action this week in Virginia. 

The breakaway tour are playing at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for the very first time. 

Joaquin Niemann at the summit of LIV's standings after seven events.

Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are also in the top three.

Sergio Garcia confirms DP World Tour return

In other news, Sergio Garcia has confirmed he will definitely return to the DP World Tour next month. 

The Spaniard will be in the field for the BMW International Open in Germany. 

It will represent his first start on the Wentworth-based circuit since he walked out of the BMW PGA Championship in September 2022.

Garcia is hoping to do enough to earn a spot in the 2025 European Ryder Cup team. 

The former Masters champ has his work cut out to make the team, though, given he did not qualify for the U.S. Open and is not currently in the field for The Open at Royal Portrush.

The leading LIV player, not otherwise exempt, as of 29 June will punch their ticket to Portrush.

As things stand, Garcia is currently fourth in the individual standings. 

Alternatively, he could head to Final Qualifying.