He’s had the conversations and admits it’s time for action.
Because this week, defending Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie will go toe-to-toe with mentor Adam Scott in Brisbane.
The duo will partner in-form New Zealand star Ryan Fox in one of two morning marquee groups from 6.10am local time (0700 AEDT) in Thursday’s first round of the $2.5 million Royal Queensland GC event.
Masters champion and former world No.1 Scott missed his hometown tournament last year, leaving Smylie to fend off three-time winner Cameron Smith and lift the Kirkwood Cup.
He’s played 24 events worldwide this year, impressing on the DP World Tour and making the PGA Championship cut at Quail Hollow.
In between he’s enjoyed catching up with Scott, who at 45 remains adamant he can add to his lone major and will be gunning for Smylie’s trophy this weekend.
The pair played together at Royal Portrush before the British Open and had dinner in Korea recently.
“Eleven, 12-year-old Elvis would be pinching himself for an opportunity like that, just to be able to pick his brain about certain things and to know that he’s looking out for me … that’s pretty special,” Smylie said.
The 23-year-old is already targeting a Presidents Cup debut and admits it’d be special to feature when Scott – who’s played 11 times for the International Team – becomes captain.
“That’s something that I’m striving for, to try and make that team … that’s a very big motivator for me, to play under him,” Smylie said.
Continuing to made a dent in majors will help, with a key goal next year to make the Open cut at Royal Birkdale.
That’s where Ian Baker-Finch won his sole major in 1991 and Smylie’s fortunate that the recently retired commentator, and now PGA of Australia chairman, has known him all his life.
“I’m actually going to ask Finchy a couple of questions … about what the course is like and how to handle it,” he said.
“That’s something that money can’t buy.”
Smith, Scott and compatriots Marc Leishman, Cam Davis and Min Woo Lee headline the local hopes while Fox, LIV stars Joaquin Niemann and Abraham Ancer, England’s Marco Penge and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen bring serious international punch.
Lee, Smith and Penge will tee off at 6am local time on the 10th hole on Thursday, with Scott, Fox and Smylie to follow in the next group.
Leishman, Ancer and Neergaard-Petersen will form one of the afternoon’s marquee groups, trailing Davis, Niemann and in-form New Zealander Daniel Hillier’s group.
The tournament will be held at the riverside course for a fifth straight year and is co-sanctioned with Europe’s DP World Tour.
-with AAP
