Get to Know Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie

Elvis Smylie kept his nerve to hold off his boyhood idol, Cameron Smith, to win the Australian PGA Championship by two strokes at Royal Queensland Golf Club, just a month after his first professional victory at the WA Open.

Smylie was one of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019 and he began the final round alongside the three-time winner of this event in an all-Australian final group that also included Marc Leishman.

Left-hander Smylie and Smith shared the lead after the second round, but the former Open champion suffered a roller coaster front nine that featured three birdies and four bogeys as Smylie reached the turn with a three-shot lead after going out in a bogey-free 32.

The 22-year-old son of four-time grand slam doubles tennis champion Liz Smylie kept his lead thanks to a number of clutch par putts down the stretch as he recorded a flawless 67 in his total of 14 under par, finishing two clear of Smith.

"It's a dream come true," Smylie said. "I just said to Matt Clayton, my caddie, that I won't forget this day, you know, playing with Cam and Leish there.

"I looked up to these guys since I was a kid and just being in their presence and to compete against them for the title, I've learnt so much and just so grateful and so honoured right now.

"My short game was great, I definitely saved myself in that department. I was pretty average off the tee, but golf is a game of imperfection and today that was a sign of that.

"I just told myself to find a way of getting it around and doing my best, executing every shot as well as I can and my short game was great, so I gave that the full credit that it deserves.

"My mum and dad have been with me every step of the way. I saw my mum in the corner there, tearing up before I holed that last putt so everyone who has been on this journey with me they know how hard I've worked to be here and hopefully this is just the start of good things to come."

Two early birdies settled any nerves he may have been feeling and further gains at the sixth and seventh maintained that forward momentum as the likes of Smith (69), Leishman (69) and David Micheluzzi (69) struggled to keep pace.

Four crucial par saves on the back nine gave Smylie a cushion until Smith holed from off the green at the 17th to reduce the margin to two. Smylie missed his birdie chance from six feet to set-up a thrilling finish. He and Smith both found the greenside trap with their approach shots, Smylie conjuring one final save to close out a two-stroke win.

Who is Elvis Smylie?

Elvis Smylie was born in Queensland, Australia on April 23, 2002.

He is the son of former professional tennis players Liz and Peter Smylie and was named after Elvis Presley.

Family friends include Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady. He is a member of Southport Golf Club in Australia.

He has spent time staying with Cameron Smith, who has been described as a mentor to him

Smylie won the Australian Boys Championship in 2019. 

A left-hander, he turned professional in February 2021, having twice won the Keperra Bowl, and was runner-up to Brad Kennedy at the Players Series in January 2021. He has had Matt Clayton as his caddie in events in Australia. He set a course record of 63 at Moonah Links during The National Tournament on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and was runner up at the New South Wales Openin 2021.

In June 2024, he qualified at the Final Qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports GC for 2024 Open at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut. In October 2024 he recorded his maiden success as a pro at the WA Open,

He averages 294.5 yards from the tee, finds 46.43% of fairways and hits 41.67% of greens in regulation. He gets up and down from the sand 50% of the time and averages a remarkable 26 putts per round and three birdies per round.