Josele Ballester announced himself on the world stage today by winning the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, in just his 10th start in the professional game.
An accomplished final round six-under-par 65 saw the Spaniard record a fine three-shot victory over last year’s joint runner-up Caleb Surratt from the United States, who shot a 69 – here at Riyadh Golf Club.
South African Dean Burmester, who beat Ballester in extra-time at LIV Golf Chicago in August, returned a 71 to claim third, while England’s Richard Bland fired a 68 to settle for fourth.
American Anthony Kim recorded far and away his best result since returning to the game after a 12-year break. He signed off with a 70 to tie for fifth.
Ballester, the winner of the US Amateur last year who joined Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC team mid-way through this season, started the day one behind third-round leaders Surratt and Burmester.
However, by the turn he was one ahead of both players, whom he was paired with, following three birdies and no dropped shots.
He continued in the same vein on the next nine making three more birdies, the final one on the 16th, to cruise home unchallenged in just his second event on the Asian Tour and The International Series.
“First of all, thank you so much. I’m super happy,” said Ballester, aged 22.
“It’s been everything, right? Like at the end of the day, being a young boy dreaming about this moment, winning your first professional career. This is why I worked so hard every day. 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.
“But right now I’m really happy and thankful for all the people that have been there supporting me.
“It’s been great these past few months. It’s been a lot of learning. When I joined LIV, I was not playing great, and it was a learning process. I had to become better. It’s been really cool to see that in this brief time I’ve gotten so much better and that I can compete at the highest level with the best players in the world.”
Tom McKibbin shared 20th place on eleven-under while Graeme McDowell was a shot further back.
