In what could only be described as a script straight out of a golfing fairytale, Elvis Smylie, the 22-year-old sensation, clinched his first DP World Tour title with a splendid two-shot victory at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Just last month, young Smylie popped the champagne on his first professional win at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open.
Keeping the pedal firmly to the metal, he continued this blistering form right onto the greens of Royal Queensland Golf Club.
It was a setup for the storybooks on Sunday, with Smylie teeing up beside Cam Smith, the three-time winner of the event, and Aussie stalwart Marc Leishman, in a thrilling all-Australian final group.
Our lad from the Gold Coast had been neck-and-neck with Smith since the second round.
But as the Championship Sunday dawned, it was clear that Smith, our 150th Open Champion, was in for a wild ride of ups and downs, netting birdies and bogeys with equal fervour, allowing Smylie to slip ahead with a flawless front nine of 32.
Let’s not forget, Smylie isn’t just any golfer; he’s the proud recipient of the 2019 Cameron Smith Scholarship.
Under the gaze of his golfing idol, he remained unflappable, sinking clutch par putts to secure a spotless 67, cruising to 14 under, two clear of Smith.
The duel had everyone on the edge of their seats right from the get-go. Both Smylie and Smith kicked off with opening birdies, quickly distancing themselves from the pack.
Smylie took the lead with a stunning long-range birdie at the second, but Smith wasn’t going to let him off easy, birdieing the third to tie at the top.
However, while Smith struggled with his putter, Smylie was as cool as a cucumber.
Even after a tricky tee shot on the 18th, he masterfully played from behind a tree to a greenside bunker, only to pull off a miraculous recovery to three feet, securing his win with a clean card.
Amidst this nail-biter, Anthony Quayle and Marc Leishman weren’t just bystanders.
Quayle’s spectacular 110-foot putt for his eighth birdie saw him finish in third with Leishman, both at 11 under.
David Micheluzzi trailed closely, with others like Cam Davis and Spaniard Angel Ayora not far behind.
Former world number one Jason Day wrapped up a tight group of contenders, showing the depth and talent teeming within professional golf’s ranks today.
This victory not only marks Smylie’s grand entry into the 2025 Race to Dubai but also positions him atop the Opening Swing leaderboard, hinting at more thrilling displays from this young golf prodigy.
The BMW Australian PGA Championship might have just introduced us to golf’s next big hero.
