[Photo: Francois Nel]
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.
He also earns the 23.03580 projected points allotted by the Official World Golf Ranking to the winner of this week’s LIV Golf tournament. The OWGR announced last week that points will be awarded for LIV Golf tournaments this season to the top 10 and ties. Smylie entered the week ranked 134th and is expected to move up to about 80th after the victory, bringing a potential Masters invitation into the picture.
“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.”
His team captain, Cam Smith, certainly agrees: “The crazy thing is I still think he’s got a lot of improving to go, which is pretty scary, really, for the rest of us, because he waxed us this week. I genuinely think he can be the best golfer in the world. He’s got all the tools of the trade. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing and knuckle down.”
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), 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.
RELATED: Elvis Smylie – a little more conversation
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.
