Howell III, Ballester impress in Hong Kong during their International Series debuts

HONG KONG - “I wasn’t going to miss it,” said Crushers GC's Charles Howell III, summing up the anticipation and prestige surrounding the Link Hong Kong Open, where he and fellow LIV Golf League player Josele Ballester of Fireballs GC made their debut appearances on The International Series.

Both players delivered standout performances in the first round, setting the tone for an exciting week.

RELATED: Full Rd. 1 recap | LIV Golf Watch | Leaderboard

Howell III, a seasoned competitor with over two decades on the PGA Tour and a strong 2025 LIV season under his belt - including a runner-up finish in Korea and a T5 in Dallas - showed his class with a solid 4-under 66 in the opening round, carding five birdies on the revered Hong Kong Golf Club layout.

“This is my first (International Series event) and I’ve been really impressed,” Howell III said. “The golf course here is fantastic. I’ve played two LIV Golf events here before, and it’s always a wonderful experience. The fact that the winner earns a spot in the Masters and The Open says everything about the quality of this tournament and the strength of the field.”

Howell III also credited Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau’s earlier appearance in India for inspiring his decision to compete in Hong Kong.

“I was looking for opportunities to play more, and these International Series events are perfect for that," Howell III said. "They’re incredibly well-run, with great fields, and they give us a chance to experience golf in amazing places.”

Joining Howell III in the spotlight is LIV Golf rookie Ballester, and the young Spaniard delivered a bogey-free 6-under 64, one of the finest performances of his young professional career. Ballester, who joined Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC mid-season and quickly made waves with a T2 finish in Chicago and T7 in the UK, was thrilled with his start.

“Today was probably my best round as a professional, especially for a Thursday opening round,” Ballester said. “Starting strong like this was really satisfying. It gave me a lot of confidence heading into tomorrow.”

Ballester emphasized the importance of competing in The International Series as part of his development.

“This is a great opportunity for a few reasons," Ballester said. "First, I’ll be playing here again next year at LIV Golf Hong Kong, so getting more rounds in on this course is really valuable. Second, the fact that this event offers exemptions to the Masters and The Open is incredible. And third, I’m still young, and I need to compete as much as I can.”

The Link Hong Kong Open is the seventh of nine elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League for the end of season Rankings champion.

Tom McKibbin of Legion XIII leads after a new course record 10-under 60 at the Hong Kong Golf Club, with Jazz Janewattananond a shot further back.