Australian golfer Elvis Smylie won the LIV Golf Riyadh event in his debut, defeating Jon Rahm by one shot to earn A$5.6 million. The 23-year-old's triumph propelled him from 134th to 77th in the world rankings. His success highlights a pathway for LIV players to gain Official World Golf Ranking points and qualify for majors.
Elvis Smylie, a 23-year-old from Queensland, Australia, secured his first LIV Golf victory at the ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh tournament, held February 4-7, 2026, at Riyadh Golf Club. In his debut for Ripper GC, Smylie edged out two-time major winner Jon Rahm by one shot, finishing with cries of 'c'mon' and 'yes' after his winning putt. This win, worth A$5.6 million, marked his latest success since turning professional in 2021, having previously won on every tour he has competed in, including the 2024 Australian PGA Championship where he beat mentor Cameron Smith by two shots.
The victory earned Smylie 22.99 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, boosting him from No. 134 to No. 77. He expressed ambitions to reach the top 50, stating, “Definitely (to be) top 50 in the world, which I’m very close to achieving. It’s great we do get recognition. At the end of the day, good golf takes care of itself so, I will try win a few more times and, ultimately, the Masters is something that’s on my mind now.” Another strong performance at the upcoming LIV Golf Adelaide could project him to around 45th.
Smylie's achievement underscores the OWGR's recent decision to award points to top-10 finishers in LIV events, a move LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil described as a “nice recognition and a great step forward,” emphasizing the focus on enabling players to compete in the four majors. Ripper GC also claimed the team title in Riyadh, with Smylie's performance key to their success.
Praise poured in from peers. Cameron Smith, Smylie's teammate and mentor, said, “I genuinely think he can be the best golfer in the world. He’s got all the tools of the trade.” Talor Gooch, the 2023 LIV individual champion, added, “What an incredible golfer and such a good kid. Twenty-three years old is crazy to think about.” Younger players like David Puig and Josele Ballester called the win inspirational for their generation.
Smylie's family background includes his mother Liz, a four-time Grand Slam doubles winner, and father Peter, a tennis professional. He plans to continue as a semi-regular on the DP World Tour through a special arrangement brokered by LIV chief Scott O’Neil, despite fines faced by other LIV players like Rahm, who has accrued about A$4.2 million in penalties.
