The big winner at LIV Golf’s season opener in Riyadh, under the lights in Saudi Arabia, was clearly the man who lifted two trophies and is cashing two cheques for individual and team victories. Elvis Smylie, a 23-year-old who had never won a pro tournament outside of his native Australia, played brilliantly all week in his LIV debut, including shooting a final-round 64 to hold off by one shot two-time major champion Jon Rahm, who applied the heat with a 63.
RELATED: Elvis Smylie wins in his LIV Golf debut, carries Ripper GC to teams title in Riyadh
Between his own victory and that of his Ripper GC team with three fellow Aussies, Smylie earned in the neighbourhood of $6.7 million.
The week’s biggest loser? Well, getting solo third place and a $US1.5 million cheque is nothing to scoff at, but American Peter Uihlein became the first “victim” of LIV’s effort to strengthen its World Ranking points position by expanding its format to 72 holes this season.
In any of the first four years of the Saudi-backed league, Uihlein would have reached a playoff against Smylie after they shot 66 and 65, respectively, in the third round to stand tied at 16-under. They would have duelled for the $US4 million first prize. Instead, neither had that chance, and it was Uihlein who ended up with $US2.5 million less in his pocket than Smylie.
“Thanks for bringing that up,” Uihlein, a 36-year-old former college star at Oklahoma State, said with a smile ahead of the final round.
He added that he thought 72 holes fit him better, but it was Smylie – never a part of LIV’s 54-hole events – who didn’t show any signs of fading while playing amid the laser beams and loud music. Smylie is, after all, named for a beloved American singer who thrived amid the bright lights of Vegas.
After Smylie birdied the first hole to pull one ahead of Uihlein, the left-hander never again was tied for the lead, and he tore up Riyadh Golf Club’s benign back nine with four birdies in the first five holes en route to shooting five-under on the inward nine. That was just enough to hold off the hard-charging Rahm, who poured in six birdies on the back, including four straight to finish.
Smylie, who didn’t suffer a bogey over his last 39 holes, did have something of a nervy 72nd hole. He drove left into the rough, and his approach came up at least 70 feet short in the front fringe. But Smylie hit a firm putt from there that went just past the hole, giving him a straightforward par putt for the one-shot victory over Rahm, who was LIV’s individual season champion last year despite earning no wins.
“It’s a dream come true,” Smylie said. “I really didn’t know what to expect this week. Playing at night is obviously a whole different ballgame 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.”
Here’s the rundown of what each position on the leaderboard took home this week in Saudi Arabia. Check back here early for updates when play is complete.
INDIVIDUAL
ELVIS SMYLIE: $US4 million ($5.7m)
2: $2.25 million
3: $1.5 million
4: $1 million
5: $800,000
6: $700,000
7: $600,000
8: $525,000
9: $442,500
10: $405,000
11: $380,000
12: $360,000
13: $340,000
14: $320,000
15: $300,000
16: $285,000
17: $270,000
18: $260,000
19: $250,000
20: $240,000
21: $230,000
22: $220,000
23: $210,000
24: $200,000
25: $195,000
26: $190,000
27: $185,000
28: $180,000
29: $175,000
30: $170,000
31: $165,000
32: $160,000
33: $155,000
34: $150,000
35: $148,000
36: $145,000
37: $143,000
38: $140,000
39: $138,000
40: $135,000
41: $133,000
42: $130,000
43: $128,000
44: $128,000
45: $125,000
46: $125,000
47: $50,000
48: $50,000
49: $50,000
50: $50,000
51: $50,000
52: $50,000
53: $50,000
54: $50,000
55: $50,000
56: $50,000
57: $50,000
TEAM
RIPPER GC: $3 million ($4.28m)
2: $1.5 million
3: $900,000
4: $700,000
5: $650,000
6: $600,000
7: $550,000
8: $500,000
9: $450,000
10: $400,000
11: $300,000
12: $250,000
13: $200,000
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
