Gold Coast’s Elvis Smylie hits the ground running in 2026

Gold Coast’s Elvis Smylie claims stunning victory on LIV Golf debut
Australian rising star Elvis Smylie has announced himself on the global stage with a remarkable victory at the 2026 LIV Golf Riyadh event, winning the individual title in his very first start on the league.
The 23-year-old left-hander produced a composed, bogey-free final round of 8-under 64 to finish at 24-under par, edging former world No.1 Jon Rahm by a single shot.
In addition to his individual triumph, Smylie helped the all-Australian Ripper GC team secure the team championship, completing a clean sweep for the squad in the season-opening event.
The victory marked the first LIV Golf win of his career and came in the league’s first 72-hole tournament format, underlining the significance of the achievement.
Smylie’s performance also earned him the tournament’s top individual prize, reportedly worth US$4 million, in what has been described as one of the most impressive debut wins on the LIV circuit.
The win continues a rapid rise for the Queenslander, who only months earlier claimed major honours on the Australasian circuit and now joins the list of Australian winners on the global stage. Now its off to Adelaide for the next event.