Elvis Smylie, a 23-year-old Australian golfer, made a resounding statement in his LIV Golf debut by winning the LIV Golf Riyadh title. Smylie's victory came in the first-ever 72-hole event in LIV Golf history and was sealed with a final-round, bogey-free 8-under 64, played under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club. He finished the tournament at 24-under par, edging out a strong challenge from Jon Rahm by a single stroke.
Smylie's impressive performance not only secured him the individual title but also propelled his team, Ripper GC, to the team victory, completing a sweep of both trophies. This win marks a significant milestone for Smylie, who officially joined the team last month.
"It's a dream come true," Smylie said after his victory. "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. It's only up from here".
Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith echoed this sentiment, expressing his belief in Smylie's potential. "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," Smith said. "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".
Smylie's win in Riyadh marks only the third time a player has won in their LIV Golf debut, a feat previously achieved by Henrik Stenson in 2022 and Charl Schwartzel in the league's inaugural event. His victory earned him a $4 million winner's share of the $20 million purse for the individual competition. He will also receive a portion of the $3 million team prize awarded to Ripper GC.
The victory in Riyadh is projected to significantly improve Smylie's world ranking. He entered the week ranked 134th and is expected to jump to 78th, a career-best. This is especially significant as LIV Golf events will now be awarding Official World Golf Ranking points to the top 10 finishers and ties.
Jon Rahm finished as runner-up, one stroke behind Smylie, while Peter Uihlein finished third.
Smylie's journey to this victory has been marked by consistent progress and achievements. He turned professional in 2021 and secured his first professional win at the Bowra & O'Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in 2024. He followed this with a maiden DP World Tour win at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, where he beat his idol, Cameron Smith.
With his dominant performance in Riyadh, Elvis Smylie has undoubtedly announced his arrival on the global stage. His impressive ball-striking and putting, combined with his composure under pressure, suggest a bright future for the young Australian golfer. He looks forward to the LIV Golf Adelaide event next week.