Young left-hander Elvis Smylie won his first DP World Tour by two strokes over Cameron Smith at the BMW Australian PGA Championship on Sunday Tournament champion.
Before the start of Thursday's game, Smalley, ranked 736th in the world, shot a bogey-free 67 (4 under par) in the final round and ended up at 14 under par, not only surpassing The former Open Champion also surpassed his Ripper GC teammates. Marc Leishman competes in the opening event of the new DP World Tour season.
Despite the event being reduced to 54 holes after heavy rain in Brisbane, the 22-year-old took the wire-to-wire victory and finished in the top five across Australia, which also includes Anthony Quayle (T3, He shot a stunning 63 and David Michelucci.
Smiley's victory was all the more remarkable because he had been mentored by the three-time Australian PGA Championship winner in 2019 through the Cameron Smith Scholarship, which provides two emerging talents with the opportunity to practice with Smith at his home in Florida A one-week opportunity to train and live like a travel professional.
The son of four-time Grand Slam doubles champion Liz Smylie won his first just last month at the Bowra & O'Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open on the Australasian PGA Tour career title, but he continued his brilliant run on a bigger stage – thus receiving a full two-year exemption at Wentworth Circuit.
Speaking immediately after the round – which included four birdies and some important par saves in the closing stages – Smiley said: “This is a dream come true. I just had a blast with Matt (g) Layton, the caddy) said I won't forget this day, you know, hanging out there with Cam and Lish.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve looked up to these guys and I’ve learned a lot just to be in front of them and compete against them for a title and now I feel so grateful and honored.
“My short game was great and I really saved myself there. My tee shot was pretty average, but golf is an imperfect game and that was a sign today.
“I just told myself to find a way to figure it out and do my best, execute every shot the best I can, and my short game is great, so I gave it all the credit it deserved.
“My mom and dad have always been there for me. I saw my mom in the corner, in tears before I made that last putt, so everyone who's been on this journey with me knows how much I have Work hard. Being here, hopefully this is just the beginning of good things to come.”
“A dream come true and a day I won’t forget” 🥹 Hear from our newest member of the Winners Circle and newest addition to the DP World Tour, Elvis Smylie 🎙️ #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/9DmrqNMkU2November 24, 2024
Despite the huge gap in experience between the overnight leaders, Smiley seemed unfazed by the scale of the potential task, and the pair opened the tournament with a birdie on Sunday's first hole.
Smith responded to Smiley's birdie on the third hole with a birdie of his own on the second hole, but despite the 22-year-old's stellar performance on the front nine, the 31-year-old The LIV golfer, who is 2 years old, has difficulty putting and three-putting. Falling behind in the fourth set due to bogey.
Smith birdied the fifth and bogeyed a hole later, while Smiley turned the advantage to two shots on the sixth with the latest outstanding putt.
The moment Elvis Smylie wins his first DP World Tour title! 🤩 #AusPGA pic.twitter.com/5JZNiadar4November 24, 2024
The left-hander had his fourth and final birdie on the seventh hole on Sunday to reach 14 under, with Smiley eventually taking the lead at the third turn and Smith in ninth Lost a stroke on the hole.
The gap somehow held through to the 17th hole through crucial putts from the leaders, but Smith applied the pressure after chipping in from behind the green on Royal Queensland's designated “party hole”.
Smiley's dream day almost turned into a nightmare on the 54th hole when his tee shot ended just behind a tree. However, even after his second shot fell into a greenside bunker, the Gold Coast native was still able to create some late-second magic, hitting his third shot from close range before hitting home , spent an unforgettable week.
The new season of the DP World Tour begins in a few days at the ISPS Handa Australian Open at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne.
