Elvis Smylie’s dream debut on LIV Golf could not have been more emphatic, with the 23-year-old Queenslander claiming victory at the season-opening event in Saudi Arabia. In the process, Smylie propelled the all-Australian Ripper GC outfit to the teams title at ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh.
EXCLUSIVE: Elvis Smylie’s first sit-down interview as a Ripper GC player
His famous namesake authored his best performances at night, and so it was for Smylie in Riyadh. The only under-lights tournament on the LIV schedule allowed players freedom to fire at flags in the calm nighttime conditions, with Smylie’s 24-under-par total eclipsing Jon Rahm by a shot.
Smylie held off not only the two-time major winner, but seasoned tour professionals in Thomas Pieters, Thomas Detry, Peter Uihlein, Abraham Ancer and reigning Australian PGA champion David Puig. In a single outing, the 2024 Australian PGA champion validated his decision to jump to LIV.
Smylie earned $US4 million for the individual title and a quarter-share of $US3 million for Ripper’s victory. That converts to a personal total of $A6.77 million.
“It’s a dream come true,” Smylie said. “I really didn’t know what to expect this week; playing at night’s obviously a whole different ball game out here. I wanted to come out here and make a statement, I wanted to prove that I’m one of the best out here – and I feel like I’ve done that and it’s only up from here.”
In LIV’s first-ever fourth round, Smylie’s bogey-free 64 was indeed a statement closing lap in Riyadh. Combining pinpoint iron play with a hot putter, Smylie found eight birdies – including three in a row under pressure on the back nine – against no bogeys to keep the pursuers at bay.
Rahm (63) offered most resistance. The Spanish star birdied his final four holes to apply a little heat, narrowly missing an eagle putt on the 18th green that would have forced Smylie to birdie the last hole to win.
A crucial par save at the 17th hole gave Smylie enough cushion en route to his third victory as a pro.
It was a big day for Ripper GC, as Lucas Herbert (64), Cam Smith (65) and Mark Leishman (69) joined Smylie in combining for a 26-under-par last-round tally to claim the teams event at 69-under, three better than Torque GC.
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Long touted as one of Australia’s best rising talents, Smylie’s career stalled briefly in the post-COVID period. A switch in coach to Perth-based savant Ritchie Smith provided the catalyst for a revival, which began when Smylie claimed the 2024 WA Open weeks before his career-changing victory at the Australian PGA that spring.
After a sublime season on the DP World Tour in 2025 that included contesting two majors (PGA Championship and The Open) and a runner-up finish at the French Open, Smylie announced he was moving to LIV Golf and Ripper GC.
So far, it’s proving to be a masterstroke.
