Gainesville, Va. — Spain’s amateur champion Jose Luis Barrester joins Liv Golf and makes his professional debut this week at the Saudi-funded league Virginia event.
Barrester, who went under his nickname Josel, signed a contract for several years, Liv said Wednesday.
“We are extremely excited to see Josel join the team,” Garcia said in a statement. “Personally, I know him because he was able to pick up golf clubs and he has worked as a dad and coach throughout his golf career.”
The 21-year-old Barrester recently concluded his senior season with Arizona, the alma mater of Liv Starr John Larm and Phil Mickelson. He finished third in the PGA Tour College rankings and earned full status at the Korn Ferry Tour, but Golf Channel reported on Monday that he refused to join the PGA Tour’s top development circuit.
He missed the cut at the Masters in April, but Barrester had a viral moment when he released himself on Ray’s Creek on the par 5 13th hole.
Barrester defeated Noah Kent 2 in the 36-hole US Amateur Finals at Hazeltin last August. Though he is a professional, he is still keeping his spot at the opening at the US Open next week as the latest champion of Usga’s top amateur events.
Barrester joins Abraham Ansar and David Puig along with Garcia in the fireball. Luis Massaveu loses his full-time spot with the team, but remains in the lineup this week due to Puig suffering a back injury.
Masaveu will be banned from competing in PGA Tour events for a year after his final LIV appearance, as he has no status on other tours.