Australian golfer Elvis Smylie delivered four outstanding rounds to claim the individual title in Riyadh on his LIV Golf debut, while also helping guide Ripper GC to the team championship alongside fellow compatriots Marc Leishman, captain Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert.

The 23-year-old closed with a bogey free 8-under 64 on Saturday to hold off a late charge from Jon Rahm by one stroke. Ripper GC also secured the team title by three shots over Torque GC, building momentum ahead of a key week on the LIV calendar as the tour heads to Adelaide.

Smylie, who only officially joined Ripper GC last month, said:

“It’s a dream come true. I really didn’t know what to expect this week. Playing at night is obviously a whole different ballgame out here.

“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. It’s only up from here.”

Elvis Smylie Claims Historic LIV Golf Riyadh Victory on Debut

Smylie finished the week at 24-under, the lowest winning total in league history, a mark that may be influenced by LIV Golf’s move from a 54-hole format to 72-holes. He also emerged from the largest field the league has seen, following this season’s expansion from 54 to 57 players. Those signs of elite potential have sparked widespread excitement around the left-handed Australian prospect.

Ripper GC captain and 2022 Open Championship winner, Cameron Smith said:

“The crazy thing is I still think he’s got a lot of improving to go, which is pretty scary, really, for the rest of us, because he waxed us this week.

“I genuinely think he can be the best golfer in the world. He’s got all the tools of the trade. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing and knuckle down.”

The victory is projected to earn Smylie 23.03580 Official World Golf Ranking points. Earlier in the week, the OWGR confirmed that LIV Golf events this season will award points to the top 10 finishers and ties. Smylie began the week ranked 134th in the world and is expected to make a significant climb following the win.

Beyond the numbers, the most striking aspect of Smylie’s performance was the maturity and composure in his overall game. His touch on the greens stood out throughout the week, particularly with a new blade putter, as he ranked third in the field in Strokes Gained Putting.

That form proved decisive late in the final round as Smylie created separation before withstanding a strong closing run from Rahm, the Legion XIII captain and two time LIV Golf Individual Champion.

Rahm started the day two shots behind joint leaders Smylie and Peter Uihlein and slipped three back when Smylie birdied the par-4 12th. The Spaniard responded with birdies on five of his final six holes, including the closing four.

At the 396 yard par-4 18th, Rahm drove the green but could not convert the eagle attempt. His closing birdie completed a bogey free 9-under 63, the lowest round of the week and reduced Smylie’s lead to one. Smylie did not realise how narrow the margin had become until his approach into the final hole finished just off the green.

“I actually didn’t know that I had to two-putt the last green,” Smylie said.

“I thought I would have had a two-shot lead going into 18. But as soon as I was walking up the green, I saw that I only had one, so I’m like, I’ve got to clutch up here and make sure to get this up-and-down.”

The LIV debutant held his nerve to secure his maiden victory on the tour.

Ripper GC Dominate Team Battle as Australians Build Momentum

His low scoring also played a decisive role in the team contest, which ultimately became a head-to-head battle between Ripper GC and Torque GC.

Ripper set the early pace as the Australians came out aggressively, highlighted by Marc Leishman opening his round with four consecutive birdies. As a team, they surged to 11-under through the opening six holes.

Torque responded through Abraham Ancer and Sebastián Muñoz, who each posted 66. The week marked Ancer’s first appearance for his new team after spending four seasons with Fireballs GC. Ripper’s final round was powered by 64s from Smylie and Lucas Herbert, supported by a 65 from Smith and a 69 from Leishman.

The combined effort produced a closing team score of 26-under, the third lowest single round team total in league history. Ripper finished the tournament at 69-under overall, setting a new league record and capturing their fifth regular season team title by three shots.

Attention now turns to Adelaide, where Ripper GC will be eager to perform in front of a passionate home crowd.

Leishman said:

“It’s a really big opportunity for us to create momentum from this week and keep it going. Obviously playing in front of the Australian crowds is a highlight of my year. It has been the last few years.”

LIV Golf Riyadh 2026 Everything You Need to Know

• Elvis Smylie claimed his maiden LIV Golf victory on debut in Riyadh, finishing at a record 24-under and holding off Jon Rahm by one stroke.
• Ripper GC secured the team title by three shots over Torque GC, setting a new league record at 69-under for the tournament.
• The Australian outfit now heads to Adelaide with momentum ahead of a highly anticipated home event.

 

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