A composed six-under 65 at Riyadh Golf Club delivered the Spaniard a three-shot victory over American Caleb Surratt, last year’s joint runner-up, who closed with a 69. South Africa’s Dean Burmester – who edged Ballester in a play-off at LIV Golf Chicago in August – signed for a 71 to take third, while England’s Richard Bland finished fourth after a 68. American Anthony Kim posted a 70 for his best result since returning to competition after a 12-year break, sharing fifth.

The season finale also confirmed Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent as the winner of The International Series Rankings. It is his second crown after claiming the inaugural title in 2022 and secures his return to the LIV Golf League next year. Japan’s Yosuke Asaji held on to second place despite missing the cut, finishing ahead of the Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, who tied for 11th after a 69 – just 25.25 points shy of overtaking Asaji.

Ballester, last year’s US Amateur champion and now a member of Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC, began the final round one behind Surratt and Burmester. Three front-nine birdies moved the 22-year-old into the lead at the turn, and he pressed on with three more on the way home, including a decisive birdie at the 16th, to win unchallenged in only his second Asian Tour and International Series appearance.

“First of all, thank you so much. I'm super happy,” Ballester said. “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 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.”

Surratt, chasing his maiden win and runner-up here last year, rued a slow start. “I feel like I'm overdue on my first win… Josele was beating me by four shots today through three holes. He's an amazing player, props to him.”

Vincent, who began the day five back, finished tied 42nd after a 75 but still topped the Rankings with 335.11 points. “I think it's still settling in… I wanted to come out here and just play freely… but yeah, I was nervous,” he said.

Tabuena mounted an early charge but late bogeys ended his LIV Golf hopes.