Australia’s Elvis Smylie made quite the entrance to LIV Golf, winning his debut event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning AEST.
The highly rated 23-year-old, who joined LIV this year after his maiden season on the DP World Tour, held off fast-finishing former world No.1 Jon Rahm by one shot.
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Smylie finished 24-under par in LIV’s first 72-hole event after storming home with a bogey free eight-under par final round of 64 to also help the all-Australian Ripper GC take the team title.
Smylie shone down the stretch of the tournament that was played under lights – the only of its kind on the LIV schedule.
Rahm mounted the pressure with four straight birdies to end the round, but Smylie made three back nine birdies to hold off his challengers.
The Queenslander was a recipient of Cameron Smith’s scholarship when he was a talented teenager, and he described claiming his first professional win since the 2024 Australian PGA Championship as “a dream come true”.
“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,” Smylie said.
“I really just tried to embrace every moment. I knew there was a world-class field trying to chase me down, but I’ve got so many amazing people around me.
“It’s a special feeling.”
Smylie’s victory came in the first LIV event with Official Golf World Ranking points and he is expected to rise to a career-best 78th in the world as a result.
His bank balance is also trending up with the win.
Smylie earned roughly $1.75 million plying his trade in Europe last year.
The left-hander comfortably eclipsed that with his first up victory.
He earned $5.7m (US$4m) for winning the individual trophy.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 07: Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC celebrates after winning the final round on day four of LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club on February 07, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Smylie will also pocket his quarter-share, alongside Smith, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert, of Ripper GC’s $4.28m (US$3m) team prize.
As well as the financial windfall, the victory also is a major boost to Smylie’s confidence of his first appearance at LIV’s Adelaide event next week.
“It’s going to be really exciting playing in front of a home crowd,” he said.
“The great thing with LIV is it’s a global tour. You are playing many different courses in so many different countries and being able to experience it all with the Ripper guys is going to be very cool, and an experience I can’t wait for.”