Spain’s Josele Ballester delivered the standout performance among the LIV Golf contingent at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times, finishing third to narrowly miss out on a place at The 154th Open after a thrilling final day at Sentosa Golf Club.
In a week where LIV players added significant firepower to The International Series, Ballester led the charge, carding a five-under-par final round to close at nine-under, six shots behind Korea’s Jeongwoo Ham and five adrift of Australia’s Cameron John, who secured one of the coveted Open Qualifying spots.
The 23-year-old continues to impress in his early appearances on The International Series. In just his third start, Ballester has yet to finish outside the top 15, adding this podium result to his victory at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers and a tied-14th finish at the Link Hong Kong Open.
His latest performance was made even more remarkable given the circumstances, as a three-and-a-half-hour weather delay forced a quick turnaround, with Ballester heading straight to the airport after completing his round. It follows another strong showing in Singapore, having finished tied sixth at LIV Golf Singapore earlier this season.
American Caleb Surratt also featured prominently, finishing tied ninth at seven-under after contending throughout the week before a challenging stretch on the back nine in his final round.
“I had a great front nine and felt in a good spot,” said Surratt. “But after the delay I didn’t come back with the same intensity. That’s something I need to learn from. I finished well, but I’ve got to manage those moments better if I want to keep momentum going.”
Despite the frustration, the 21-year-old remains focused on the bigger picture, aiming to compete regularly on The International Series as he builds toward a maiden professional victory and continues to sharpen his game.
“I want to play as much as possible and keep learning,” he added. “The goal is to give myself more chances to get my first professional win. Weeks like this, even with the ups and downs, are part of that process.”
Ballester’s Fireballs GC teammate Luis Masaveu also closed strongly, signing for a six-under-par round as he continued his upward trend in form.
“I’m playing better each week,” said Masaveu. “This was a step forward again. The course is tough and you have to play really solid golf, so it’s a decent result.”
Masaveu, like many in the field, highlighted The International Series as a key platform for development and opportunity.
“Both the Open spots and the opportunity to grow my game are why I’m here,” he said. “The more you play, the more you improve. Even with a busy schedule, I’d like to play a few more of these this year.”
Fellow LIV golfer Peter Uihlein rounded out the contingent with a five-under-par total, as the League’s players once again underlined the strength and depth they bring to The International Series.
