LIV Golf's Josele Ballester clinches first professional win at Saudi International

Josele Ballester clinched his first professional victory at the International Series' finale in Saudi Arabia. 

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who joined LIV Golf halfway through the 2025 campaign, shot a final round 65 to win the PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club by three shots from America's Caleb Surratt. 

South Africa's Dean Burmester finished in solo third on 17-under, whilst Richard Bland, Tyrrell Hatton, Anthony Kim, Lucas Herbert and Adrian Meronk also finished in the top-10. 

"Being a young boy dreaming about this moment, winning your first professional career, this is why I worked so hard every day," an emotional Ballester told reporters. 

"It's been really cool to finally get this done. It's going to make me keep working even harder to accomplish all the things I have.”

For Kim, the former PGA Tour star turned golf's yeti, it represented his best finish in a professional golf event since he returned to the sport after a 12-year absence. 

He has confirmed that he'll be playing in LIV Golf Promotions event next January and believes his hard work off the course is finally starting to pay off. 

Elsewhere, Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent and Japan's Yosuke Asaji secured LIV Golf exemptions for the 2026 season via the International Series' order of merit. 

Who is Josele Ballester?

Ballester joined LIV Golf in June following a stellar amateur career that saw him win the Spanish Amateur, European Amateur and US Amateur. 

The latter achievement saw him qualify for the 2025 Masters in which he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

Ballester missed the cut in April at Augusta National but rubbed tournament officials the wrong way after he relieved himself in Rae's Creek near the iconic 13th hole. 

He initially joked about what he did, insisting to reporters he would "do it again". 

But he later apologised to Augusta National.