Josele Ballester, who urinated at Masters, signs with LIV Golf

• Josele Ballester, known for urinating on the 13th hole at the 2025 Masters, signed with LIV Golf.

LIV Golf has signed its first Whiz Kid.

But this is not quite the splash the Saudi-backed league looks for.

Spaniard Josele Ballester, who is best known for urinating on the 13th hole at the 2025 Masters, signed a multi-year contract to join the Fireballs captained by Sergio Garcia.

Ballester, who played at Arizona State, is No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and won the 2024 U.S. Amateur.

After hitting his third shot on the par-5 13th during the first round of the Masters, the 21-year-old Ballester walked toward a tributary of Rae’s Creek that runs along the left side of the fairway and took relief … into the water with his back to the fans but in plain sight.

After zipping up he received a loud ovation.

“They saw me. They saw me,” Ballester said after carding a 76. “It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.

“Probably one of the (loudest) claps that I got today. Real loud, so that was kind of funny.”

Ballester said he forgot about the restrooms behind the 13th tee box.

After shooting a 78 in the second round, and missing the cut at 10-over, Ballester said he apologized to the club.

“I think we just move on from this moment,” he added.

Garcia has known Ballester “since he could pick up a golf club.” Ballester has been coached by Victor Garcia, Sergio’s father.

“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,” Garcia said.

Ballester will make his LIV debut this week at the event held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.

Luke Clanton says joining PGA Tour simple, wants to play ‘against the best’

Ballester’s decision comes as Luke Clanton, the former Florida State standout who has been the world No. 1 amateur for the last 10 months, said his decision to join the PGA Tour over LIV was simple.

“I want to play the PGA Tour, pretty simple,” Clanton, 21, said at the RBC Canadian Open, where he will make his professional debut. “I want to play against the best, I want to compete in majors, and that’s it. Simple.”

Clanton, who is from Hialeah, has made 13 PGA starts as an amateur. He earned the required points for full PGA Tour status when he made the cut at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches in February.

Clanton finished tied for 18th at Cognizant with a 12-under 272.

Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.