Elvis Smylie what's in the bag 2026

Australian Elvis Smylie is smiling all the way to the bank after winning his maiden LIV Golf title in Riyadh and pocketing $4m. The 23-year-old produced four superb rounds to win in what was his LIV Golf debut.

Smylie capped off his impressive first week under the lights at LIV Golf Riyadh, shooting a final-round of 64 on Saturday to hold off Jon Rahm by one stroke. He also led the Rippers to the team title, as the Aussies swept both trophies going into their biggest tournament of the season at this week’s LIV Golf Adelaide.

"It’s a dream come true," said Smylie, who only signed for LIV last month. "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. Everything looked like a bucket for me, which is nice."

Smylie entered the week ranked 134th in the world and will rise as LIV gets world ranking points for the first time. He is expected to move up significantly with the victory.

His winning score of 24 under is the lowest in LIV’s brief history but that is hardly surprising given that the format has been adjusted from 54 to 72 holes.

Rahm started the day two shots behind Smylie and Peter Uihlein and was three behind when Smylie birdied the par-4 12th. But the Spaniard birdied five of his last six holes to put the pressure on Smylie. 

He drove the green at the 396-yard par-four 18th but could not convert the eagle putt. Still, his final birdie gave him a bogey-free 63, the lowest round of the week, and reduced Smylie’s lead to one.

Smylie didn’t realise the slim margin until hitting his approach shot at the 18th that left him on the edge of the green.

"I actually didn’t know that I had to two-putt the last green," he said. "I thought I would have had a two-shot lead going into 18. But as soon as I was walking up the green, I saw that I only had one, so I’m like, I’ve got to clutch up here and make sure to get this up-and-down."

Who is Elvis Smylie?

Elvis Smylie was born in Queensland, Australia on April 23, 2002.

He is the son of former professional tennis players Liz and Peter Smylie and was named after Elvis Presley.

Family friends include Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady. He is a member of Southport Golf Club in Australia.

He has spent time staying with Cameron Smith, who has been described as a mentor to him

Smylie won the Australian Boys Championship in 2019. 

A left-hander, he turned professional in February 2021, having twice won the Keperra Bowl, and was runner-up to Brad Kennedy at the Players Series in January 2021. He has had Matt Clayton as his caddie in events in Australia. He set a course record of 63 at Moonah Links during The National Tournament on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and was runner up at the New South Wales Openin 2021.

In June 2024, he qualified at the Final Qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports GC for 2024 Open at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut. In October 2024 he recorded his maiden success as a pro at the WA Open.

In November 2024, he kept his nerve to hold off his boyhood idol, Cameron Smith, to win the Australian PGA Championship by two strokes at Royal Queensland Golf Club, just a month after his first professional victory at the WA Open. And in January this year he announced that he was leaving the DP World Tour to join LIV.

He averages 292.70 yards from the tee, finds 71.53% of fairways and hits 73.89% of greens in regulation. He gets up and down from the sand 60% of the time and averages 30.10 putts per round and has a scoring average of 70.10.

What's in Elvis Smylie's Golf Bag?

Driver: Titleist GT3 10°

3-Wood: Ping G440 MAX 15°

Irons:  Titleist T200 (3), Titleist T100 (4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10: 46°, 56°, 58°, 60°  

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport GSS Blade

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Plus