WHEN Elvis Smylie scored his breakthrough victory within the Western Australian Open simply over a yr in the past, his rapid purpose was modest sufficient – to complete within the high three on the Aussie circuit and earn standing on the DP World Tour.
That goal was achieved just some weeks later when the Gold Coast leftie outgunned Cameron Smith to file a shocking upset within the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
He’ll quickly be again to defend his title at Royal Queensland, this time with all the arrogance of a longtime worldwide participant and with far loftier ambitions on his thoughts – primarily, to win his method onto the profitable US PGA Tour.
And he’s so shut.
The highest 10 golfers on the conclusion of the Race to Dubai – the DP World Tour’s Order of Benefit – who aren’t already members of the US PGA Tour will earn a card to play on the world’s largest stage.
“I used to be wanting on the Race To Dubai standings the opposite day,” Smylie mentioned. “It had that PGA image subsequent to my identify, which is absolutely cool to see.
“It’s given me the inexperienced gentle that it’s in sight and it’s very motivating to know that it’s inside attain, although there’s numerous good golf to be performed, and I’m not getting forward of myself.”
That’s been 23-year-old Smylie’s method all year long – to organize meticulously for every occasion, settle for the result no matter it could be, be taught from the expertise and change into a greater participant, and individual, within the course of.
It has been a fabulously profitable yr for Smylie, starting together with his win within the BMW Australian PGA, an occasion co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, which introduced with it membership of the circuit previously often known as the European Tour.
He’s received about $1.7 million and carried out constantly effectively – tied fifth within the 2024 Australian Open, 14th within the Nedbank Golf Problem in South Africa, fifteenth within the China Open, sixteenth within the Hainan Traditional, sixth within the Danish Open, and an agonisingly shut second to American Michael Kim in September’s French Open.
Usually, Smylie made no excuses for that merciless defeat. “I left the whole lot on the market,” he mentioned. “I had a bogey-free remaining spherical of six-under. When you’d instructed me I’d shoot that initially of play I’d have taken it. I performed nice; didn’t put a foot fallacious. It simply wasn’t meant to be.”
Nor was he shocked at his efficiency.
“I used to be actually decided that week to take the following step and actually contend,” he mentioned. “I really feel I belong on the market and my sport is actually ok to win. It’s good to take that subsequent step. I got here near successful and I do know my finest golf is simply across the nook.”
Smylie described his first yr on tour as ‘an eye-opener.’
“I by no means knew what the expertise was going to be like,” he mentioned. “You attempt to put together mentally and bodily for every occasion, however you may’t actually plan for the whole lot – no one tells you about being in China and having to make use of Google Translate.
“Or what you do if you get actually dangerous sinus and an ear an infection and need to test your self into an Austrian hospital, as I did a few months in the past. I’ve received so many journey tales I may write a guide about it.”
Smylie says the experiences have made him more durable and stronger.
“I believe that’s the great thing about skilled golf,” he mentioned. “It’s not straightforward and it’s not going to be easy crusing all the way in which. There are bumps within the highway. It’s the way you deal with it that’s necessary. You come out the opposite aspect all the higher for it – change into a greater individual.”
Smylie says he’s fortunate to have good mates with whom to share the journey, and he lists fellow Australian professionals David Micheluzzi, Jason Scrivener, and Kiwis Daniel Hillier and Kazuma Kobori.
“When you didn’t have individuals to hang around with and journey with it could be lots lonelier than individuals assume it’s,” he mentioned. “Whenever you’re away from residence and household it undoubtedly helps lots.”
Smylie performed the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship in Scotland in early October earlier than returning briefly to Australia for a brief break, then returned to the DP World Tour in South Korea within the final week of October.
His sights are actually on the season-ending Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship this month – occasions which is able to decide the winner of the Race To Dubai and resolve the ten newcomers to the US PGA Tour.
He’s wanting ahead to returning to Royal Queensland later this month and competing in a match he describes as being very particular.
“Profitable final yr, in entrance of my residence Queensland crowd and battling down the stretch with Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman – that was rent-free in my thoughts, and one thing I at all times come again to.
“I’ve an superior alternative to compete in two nice tournaments on two nice programs, in entrance of nice Aussie crowds – it’s a particular option to finish the yr.”
Smylie plans to play within the Cathedral Invitational exterior Melbourne earlier than a month’s break. He’ll start his 2026 marketing campaign in mid-January – both on the Dubai Desert Traditional or in Hawaii, if that card on the US PGA Tour heads his method.
His objectives for subsequent yr? To play in as many main championships as he can, maybe be chosen within the Worldwide crew for the President’s Cup, and to place himself right into a place to win many extra tournaments.
Worldwide stars Queensland certain
JOAQUIN Niemann headlines the newest batch of gamers to be confirmed starters for the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland.
Niemann, the 2023 Australian Open champion and a seven-time winner on LIV since becoming a member of the breakaway tour, can be joined by three internationally acclaimed gamers in Carlos Ortiz, Sebastián Muñoz, and Josele Ballester.
Ortiz, from Mexico, and Munoz, from Colombia, are earlier winners on the PGA TOUR, and present teammates of Niemann’s on Torque GC crew on the LIV Golf Tour, the place each have celebrated particular person match victories and crew success.
With Worldwide Sequence victories in Oman and Macau prior to now 18 months, Ortiz was the primary Mexican-born participant in 42 years to win on the PGA TOUR when he claimed the 2020 Houston Open. He additionally had his finest end in a serious championship when he tied for fourth at this yr’s US Open at Oakmont.
Fellow LIV Tour member Muñoz claimed his PGA TOUR title on the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2019, earlier than beating Jon Rahm in playoff in August to win LIV Golf Indianapolis.
As for Spaniard Ballester, the 2024 US Novice champion is taken into account top-of-the-line younger prospects in world golf. The 22-year-old Ballester completed in a tie for second in simply his fifth LIV begin, dropping in a playoff in Chicago in August.
Their involvement will add appreciable power a stellar area for the November 27-30 occasion, becoming a member of the likes of Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis, Marc Leishman, 2018 Australian Open winner Abraham Ancer and defending PGA champion Elvis Smylie.
