The 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship, the curtain-raiser for the Race to Dubai, kicked off with a spectacular first round at a soggy Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Local favourite Elvis Smylie fired a scintillating six-under-par 65, edging out the competition in a leaderboard stacked with talent.
Smylie’s Star Performance
The 22-year-old Gold Coast native showed his mettle despite the rain-soaked conditions.
Smylie carded eight birdies against two bogeys, including a spectacular hole-out from the bunker at the ninth to close his round.
His performance underscores the promise he’s been building since claiming his maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title in October.
With sporting pedigree coursing through his veins—his parents, Liz and Peter Smylie, were professional tennis players who even paired up in the mixed doubles at the 1983 French Open—Elvis seems to thrive under pressure.
And on this occasion, he outshone a field brimming with Australian stars and international heavyweights in the co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour.
Elvis Smylie: It’s a home game for me this week. I’m from the Gold Coast, it’s only an hour’s drive.
I’ve played a lot of golf here. I’m quite familiar with the course and every part of my game’s really good at the moment.
I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing. The greens are amazing considering after all the rain, so kudos to the greenkeepers.
And Duane, my caddie, we’re working really well together and really excited for the next few days.
I think you try to just keep the levels the same compared to what every other tournament is, but it’s a little bit tricky when you know that it’s a bigger tournament.
It’s great having all the Aussies back home and supporting the Australian tournaments.
And it’s great to compete against them because ultimately I want to be in their shoes and do what they’re doing in their career.
It’s great for me to be able to compare my game against theirs and see what areas I need to improve on.”
Chasing the Leader
Hot on Smylie’s heels at five-under are France’s Victor Perez and Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach, joined by Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar and another Aussie, Matias Sanchez.
Perez, a Rolex Series champion, was poised to match Smylie’s mark after 13 holes before a bogey on the 15th halted his momentum.
Girrbach, Sanchez, and Del Solar delivered solid performances to keep the pressure on as the tournament progressed.
Victor Perez: We got most of the good weather, it was a bit rainy at the end, which didn’t help.
The back nine plays more difficult so the last few were definitely tricky, but overall very happy with my first day.
Getting off to a good start in a tournament is always key to feel like you have a bit if leeway and momentum leading through Friday and then the weekend.
There is a lot of strategy that is important on this course. We’ve been fortunate with the rain it has made the greens probably as soft as they have ever been on this track, so I am expecting them to firm up if the weather allows, which I think is what everyone wants. A bit of strategy and holing a few putts goes a long way.
The Pack in Pursuit
A formidable group of five Australians, including Major champions Jason Day and Cam Smith, finished the day at four under par.
Joining them are Marc Leishman, Ben Eccles, and David Micheluzzi, the latter earning the honour of launching the 2025 season with the opening tee shot after a stellar 2024 rookie campaign.
Adding to the international flair, two-time DP World Tour winner Jordan Smith, Spain’s Ivan Cantero, and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter also sit at four under.
Meanwhile, defending champion Min Woo Lee and European Challenge Tour Number One Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen are among a tightly packed group of 18 players at three under, keeping themselves well within striking distance.
Setting the Stage
As the rain continues to play its part, the BMW Australian PGA Championship promises high drama in the coming rounds.
With Smylie leading the charge and a stacked field of contenders snapping at his heels, this season opener is already shaping up to be one for the books.
