Elvis Smylie confirms potential with PGA Championship victory
Perhaps the first of many significant titles for 22 year old Elvis Smylie – image Australian Golf Media
Gold Coaster, Elvis Smylie, has for several years given every indication he would develop into one of Australia’s best players and his victory in today’s BMW Australian PGA Championship confirmed that promise.
His two-shot victory over the pre-tournament favourite and fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith was carried out in the manner of someone of far greater experience than the 22-year-old, holding off not only Smith but the powerful finishing Anthony Quayle, Marc Leishman and David Micheluzzi amongst others with a series of brilliant par saves over the closing nine holes.
Smith, who had started the day in a share of the lead with Smylie, dropped four shots behind the winner at one stage but fought back in an endeavour to win his 4th PGA Championship title in great style pitching in from behind the green at the 17th to reduce the margin to two and keep the title’s destination in doubt.
But Smylie held on with yet another par save at the last with Smith unable to apply any last-minute pressure.
“It’s a dream come true,” Smylie said. “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 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.
“I’m a proud ambassador for BMW and have been a proud ambassador for the last three years. It is an absolute honour to be with a brand like BMW (as well as) Titleist, Footjoy and Golf Australia. My team; Ritchie Smith, Luke Mackey, Michael Lloyd, Marty McGuinness, my mum and dad.
“They 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.”
It was apparent from daybreak on day four that it would take something special to break clear of a leaderboard containing something like 15 players within four shots of the lead.
Conditions at Royal Queensland were continuing their recovery from a rain deluge early in the week and were perfect for low scoring with just a gentle breeze, fine conditions and a soft golf course to allow an aggressive approach for those who so chose.
It became even more obvious when many of those out early in the day began to move through the field with defending champion Min Woo Lee round in 66 almost before the final group had hit off, followed soon after by other low rounds of 65 by New Zealand’s Nick Voke and Spain’s Angel Ayora whose round of 64 swept him from the cut line to a share of 4th when he finished his round.
When the final group of Cam Smith, Elvis Smylie and Marc Leishman took to the course at 11.00, they knew they had some serious work to do if they were to keep those ahead on the golf course at bay and lift the coveted Australian PGA Championship trophy.
With birdies at his opening two holes, Smylie had made a statement regarding his preparedness to challenge one of the game’s best players in Smith and to continue the sort of form which led to his first Australasian Tour victory just a few weeks ago.
Smith would also birdie the first and rejoined Smylie in the lead with another birdie at the 3rd and the pair was at 12 under and three clear of Victorian David Micheluzzi who had birdied two of his first three holes and Leishman who birdied the 3rd.
By the time the final group reached the 8th tee, another had joined the fray, when NSW born Queenslander, Anthony Quayle, produced what would be the round of the day 63 to race into 3rd outright at 11 under par and although three from the then leader, Smylie, he was just one behind Smith.
Quayle’s strong finish included birdies at the 17th and 18th, the last from over 100 feet.
Quayle, who is a former Queensland PGA Champion and a Japan Tour regular in recent years, was unlikely to challenge for the title given the amount of birdie opportunities remaining for those behind on the golf course but he had turned around a Japan Tour season which has seen him miss 15 cuts and lose his status there.
“Man, it’s been a pretty hard year, so it was sort of not really expected,” said Quayle. “I’ve sort of felt that my game has felt really good for the last few weeks now. I don’t even feel like it’s been as bad as what the scores have sort of shown, but the last few weeks especially has been really good.
“Been working really hard at it. It just feels so good to shoot something like that and just get some sort of reward. Yeah, it feels awesome. I feel so happy right now.”
Anthony Quayle on a roll early in the day – photo Australian Golf Media
By the time the leaders had reached the 10th tee things were beginning to take a very different look at the top of the leaderboard. Smylie had made the turn in 4 under 32 and after Smith had dropped shots at the 4th, 5th and 9th, he was out in 35 and Smylie headed to the 10th three ahead of Smith and Quayle.
Smylie was hanging tough and Smith’s game was not as sharp as it needed to be to catch the youngster. Smylie gave evidence with two impressive par saves, more especially at the short par 4 12th where he failed to reach the green in 2 but holed a 20-footer for par to remain three ahead.
Smylie was displaying composure beyond his experience, perhaps his sporting genes (his mum Liz a major doubles winner in tennis) assisting in keeping him settled in a week where a victory would establish himself on the world stage. A win would get him to the DP World Tour with full status and allow him to release his undoubted potential.
The first real chink in his armour came at the 14th when he seemingly failed to complete his backswing from the tee and found the trees left. Unfazed however he pitched out, hit his approach to 5 feet and holed to save par again.
When Smith bogeyed the same hole after he, too, had found the trees, the difference between the two was four shots but Smith was not about to give up his chance at a 4th PGA Championship title easily.
While Smylie was reeling off par after par, Smith birdied the par 5 15th and he moved back into a share of 2nd and three behind.
While everything appeared still in safe keeping for Smylie, it changed dramatically when Smith holed from behind the green at the short par 3 party hole and the difference was just two and instead of a last hole cruise to victory Smylie was under pressure.
When his drive found the right-hand trees at the last, the pressure became even greater but Smylie manufactured a ropy hook to find the greenside bunker and it was over to Smith to knock it close and force Smylie to save another par.
Unfortunately for Smith, he, too, found the bunker with his approach although his was, inexcusably, from the middle of the fairway and his chance had all but gone.
And so, Elvis Smylie is the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Champion and, with it, comes the European Tour access he has been chasing since turning professional three years ago and, most believe, so much more as one of Australia’s most exciting young prospects.
“To know that I have a job secured overseas now, it feels great,” said Smylie when asked about his new status. “Going into the start of the Australian season, I know there would be a lot of events in a row. For me, playing a lot of competitive golf is important because I wanted to continue to build. I feel like, as each week goes on, I’m getting competitively stronger.
“So, to have the opportunity to go overseas and play on the DP World Tour, where there are a lot more events in a row, I feel like it’s going to be great for me.”
