LIV Golf 2026 Season Preview: Fireballs GC

Fireballs GC enters the 2026 season as an all-Spanish team after losing Abraham Ancer to Torque GC and reacquiring Luis Masaveu. 

2026 ROSTER

Sergio Garcia (captain), 43, Spain. LIV Golf starts (46); Best result (1st)

David Puig, 24, Spain. LIV Golf starts (41); Best result (T3)

Josele Ballester, 22, Spain. LIV Golf starts (6); Best result (T2)

Luis Masaveu, 23, Spain. LIV Golf starts (9); Best result (T14) 

OFFSEASON NEWS 

After another strong season in 2025 that included three victories, the Fireballs made a significant offseason move, allowing Abraham Ancer to join Torque while they added Luis Masaveu. Captain Sergio Garcia signed a multi-year extension, as he now takes on a mentor role for his three teammates all age 24 or younger. The Fireballs are now the first ever all-Spanish team on LIV Golf.

2026 OBJECTIVES 

• Win the Team Championship. 

• Ballester and Puig earn their first individual wins. 

• Win their home event at LIV Golf Andalucía. 

• Puig and Ballester qualify for major championships.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS 

Sergio Garcia: Garcia enters a stage of his career where he is still competitive and can challenge for individual titles but is also serving as an important mentor for his three young teammates. The 46-year-old finds himself in a unique position where he has three of the best young Spanish players under his tutelage with the future of Spanish golf in the hands of the Fireballs.

David Puig: Puig is one of the most talented young players in the world and continues to improve. In December, he won the BMW Australian PGA Championship, which was the biggest win of his career to this point. Now with plenty of professional experience, Puig should take the next step in his career and challenge for individual wins on LIV Golf.

Josele Ballester: Ballester has been progressing quickly since joining LIV Golf in Virginia last season. After finishing T2 at LIV Golf Chicago, he won the PIF Saudi International in November earning his first professional win. The 22-year-old has the all-around game to be one of the biggest stars in golf one day, and that day may be rapidly approaching.

Luis Masaveu: Masaveu was on the roster for all three of the Fireballs wins last season and will be eager to rejoin the team in 2026. With the opportunity to play his first full season on LIV Golf, this will be an important season for Masaveu’s development.

WHAT THE STATS SUGGEST 

In 2025, the Fireballs were extremely consistent off the tee both in terms of distance and accuracy, where they ranked 4th in the league in both categories. They also ranked 4th in birdies per tournament. 

WHERE CAN THEY IMPROVE 

While the ball-striking was phenomenal last season, the Fireballs struggled at times on the greens, ranking 8th in the league in putting and 7th in scrambling. With the team’s young players continuing to develop, their short game should be improved in 2026. 

KEY QUOTES 

Sergio Garcia on his all-Spanish roster: "Returning to Fireballs GC and LIV Golf reinforces everything we are building. With David and Josele playing well in 2025 and Luis joining the team for 2026, our identity and competitive edge are stronger than ever, rooted in pride, purpose, and our collective emotional connection to the game of golf. LIV Golf continues to set the pace globally, and I'm committed to leading this group as we push forward and keep raising the standard."

Sergio Garcia on team goals for next season: "I think that when it comes down to performance-wise, obviously we want to win championships. We want to win the Team Championship sometime soon. We’ve done well in the past few years, but we could do much better when it comes down to the Team Championship."

Josele Ballester on how playing on LIV Golf shaped his development: “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.” 

BOTTOM LINE 

The Fireballs may not appear quite as strong on paper after losing Ancer, but on LIV Golf, team camaraderie, playing for a common goal and representing a country cannot be understated. The new team dynamic, in addition to the natural progression expected from Puig, Ballester and Masaveu should keep the team just as competitive going forward. 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS  

• Both Ballester and Puig win an individual event.  

• Sergio Garcia finishes top 20 at The Masters.  

• Garcia, Ballester and Puig all finish in the Lock Zone.