Elvis Smylie – destined to be a regular now in pre-event press conferences 

The Australian Open gets underway on Thursday at two of Australia’s finest layouts, the Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Clubs in Melbourne’s sandbelt, accommodating the field of 156 men, 84 women and 12 in the All Abilities category.

The concept introduced two years ago where the three categories are played at the same venue in the same week has met with mixed reception, some suggesting there should be separate events for the men and the women.

The event carries combined prizemoney of $A3.4 million, although it should be noted that the men’s purse is now only the third highest on the PGA Tour of Australasia after the Australian PGA Championship and the New Zealand Open to be played in February / March.

The purses for both the men and the women are A$1.7 million, both winners to receive A$306,000 of that amount.

The men’s field is essentially the same which competed in last week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship with the notable addition of the defending champion Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and one or two others including the new PGA Tour member, Karl Vilips of Australia.

Last week’s PGA Champion Elvis Smylie is joined by Cam Smith, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert, ensuring a first win by an Australian since 2019 is definitely on the cards.

For Smylie his life is rapidly changing following his sensation victory at Royal Queensland three days ago.

“There’s definitely plans that have changed since last week for sure. So, at this stage I’m going to be playing in the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa next week, so that’ll be really exciting and it’s a good situation to be in with so many opportunities that I have now. Really looking forward to taking up membership on the European Tour and playing over there full time.”

Smylie outlined his movements since his win.

“A quick turnaround obviously to Sunday night. I drove back down to the Gold Coast with my parents, had a nice dinner with them and then repacked the luggage and got down on a flight yesterday at 7.30. So it’s been quick and no alcohol for me, I’ve been quite on my best behaviour. There’ll be a time to celebrate, but, for now, I’m really looking forward to doing my best here at Australian Open.”

The event is jointly sanctioned by the DP World Tour offering the possibility of access to the world’s second-richest tour for a winner who is currently without status to play there.

Hannah Green leads the women’s field in terms of world ranking, following yet another fine season on the LPGA Tour, during which she recorded three victories.

Minjee Lee is the next highest-ranked female in the field but she has recorded a very ordinary season by her standards and it may be that defending champion, Ashleigh Bulai and former winner and prolific winner of titles internationally, Jiyai Shin, along with Green, are the winning prospects.

Two years ago the respective Australian Open Championships were played over the same two courses although this time it will be the Kingston Heath Golf Club which will play host compared to the Victoria Golf Club in 2022.

The opening two rounds will be flip-flopped between the two venues before the 36 holes over the weekend will be contested over the outstanding Kingston Heath.

Men’s Draw

Women’s Tee Times 

Mike Hendry – file image courtesy of Australian Golf Media 

The Japan Golf Tour played its penultimate event of the season, the Casio World Open, over the weekend, and for New Zealander Mike Hendry, it continued what has been a remarkable comeback from a life-threatening illness more than eighteen months ago.

Hendry shared the lead into the final round at the Kochi Kuroshiro Country Club on the island of Shikoku but eventually finished two shots behind the winner Hiroshi Iwata, who won his 7^th Japan Tour title.

Hendry, who was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2023, underwent extensive treatment before returning to competitive golf in September of that year and won the first event in which he played when returning, albeit a minor event in New Zealand.

The 45-year-old’s return to the Japan Tour in 2024 has seen him re-establish himself on the tour he has chosen to play for the past 12 years or so. He won an event in May (his second victory on the Japan Tour), although his play in recent weeks until this weekend has seen him miss five of his last six cuts.

This weekend, therefore, was a welcome return to form ahead of next week’s season-ending Golf Nippon Series event in Tokyo.

Hendry is now 26^th on the Japan Golf Tour money list for the season.

Leaderboard   

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 3^rd 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 3^rd.

By the time the final group reached the 8^th 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 3^rd 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 17^th and 18^th, 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 4^th, 5^th and 9th, he was out in 35 and Smylie headed to the 10^th 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 12^th 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 14^th 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 4^th PGA Championship title easily.

While Smylie was reeling off par after par, Smith birdied the par 5 15^th and he moved back into a share of 2^nd 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.”

LEADERBOARD

Ben Campbell in action during round two  – image courtesy of Asian Tour 

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell’s opening two rounds of the Hong Kong Open at the Fanling Course have left him at 12 under par and one shot ahead of the field in the defence of the title the 33 year old won twelve months ago.

Rounds of 63 and 65 at the Hong Kong Golf Club have opened up the possibility of a second win in 2024, having won an International Series event in Morocco in July.

“I just think it’s a course where, you know, I’m not the longest hitter, so it’s good that you just got to sort of plot your way around and just be patient I think,” said the 33-year-old, who is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour having also won this year’s International Series Morocco.

“I hit a lot of shots to sort of 10-15 feet today, and sort of just played patient. I didn’t fire at a few flags when I wasn’t quite in position and then rolled in a couple of 15 footers. So, yeah, I think it’s all about being patient around here and not trying to overpower the golf course.”

Campbell currently lies in 4^th place on this season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit having added four other top ten finishes to his win in Morocco. A  win here followed by further success in the remaining two events of the season, which include two International Series events, could well see him challenging John Catlin for the Order of Merit title and with it access to the Liv Golf Series next season.

Aiding Campbell’s cause in that quest is that Catlin missed the cut this week although he will need a miraculous three weeks to catch the American and a little help also.

Campbell leads by one over three-time Asian Tour winner Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand, while Sydney’s Kevin Yuan is in a share of third place and three from Campbell’s lead.

Leaderboard

Elvis Smylie in action during round one – image Australian Golf Media

The early morning players on day one of the BMW Australian PGA Championship were blessed with near-perfect scoring conditions and, if the leaderboard at the halfway point of the day was any indication, they took advantage.

Despite a deluge of rain over the first three days of the week, the Royal Queensland layout stood up reasonably well given the circumstances and, with little wind, soft conditions and preferred lies in effect, the Royal Queensland layout was soon under siege.

Most of the focus for the fans who were at the course early for play beginning at 6.00 am, was on the marquee pairing of three-time Australian PGA Champion, Cameron Smith, defending champion Min Woo Lee and former world number one Jason Day.

It would be Lee who took charge early when, beginning his round from the 10^th, birdied 5 of his first 11 holes to take a two-shot lead at that point.

Lee, though, would bogey his next two holes after being left at the par 3 13^th (4^th of the layout) and long at the 14^th but, like Smith and Day, he would birdie the very reachable par 5 16^th and all three were at 4 under.

Behind them on the golf course, however, was exciting young Australian Elvis Smylie, who just a few weeks ago broke through for his first and perhaps much-awaited win on the PGA Tour of Australasia after numerous top-three finishes over the last three years.

Smylie, an elegant and extremely gifted golfer and a former Australian Boys Champion, also began at the 10^th and after making the turn in 33 he added five more birdies and a bogey over his closing nine for a round of 65.

When the morning field had finished the 22-year-old was ahead by one over Swiss golfer, Joel Girrbach, who after a good start to his season on the DP World Tour has missed eight of his last ten cuts.

For Smylie though it is a continuation of the good form he has shown in the early stages of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s current season having won the WA Open and finished 3rd at the WAPGA in October.

“It’s a home game for me this week,” said Smylie. “I mean, 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 everything and Duane, my caddie, we’re working really well together and really excited for the next few days.

The Duane he refers to is a relatively new caddy for him, Duane Smith, who just so happens to be the husband of Australian LPGA Tour player Sarah Jane Smith.

Smylie is aware that this week’s event is at a different level to that he has been performing so well in of late, but he is delighted to have the chance to compete against some of the game’s best players such as Day and Smith and Lee.

I know Cam better than Jason, but I actually met Jason at the Greg Norman Medal on Tuesday night, and that was really nice. It’s just great to have him back here and supporting Australian golf. I want to be where he is, so it’s definitely motivating to play against those guys for sure.

“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 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.”

Smylie has been working with renowned West Australia coach Ritchie Smith over the past 12 months or so, much of that work managing some of the injury issues Smylie has experienced with his lithe physique.

“I mean this time last year I changed my whole team. Ritchie Smith is my coach, Luke Mackey is my S and C coach, Marty McInnes is my physio and then Michael Lloyd’s my mental coach. Everyone that was in my team before, pretty much left and that was my decision. I needed a clean slate and I feel like I’m really happy with what we’re doing all together.

“They’re all here this week, so it’s great for everyone to be at the same tournament and we’re all working together really well. And yeah, my game’s gone from strength to strength ever since.

Smith also has Min Woo Lee, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green amongst those he guides, and so he was on course today to keep a watchful eye on Smylie, Lee and others.

Day and Smith finished at 4 under 67 and two from the early day one lead while Lee who had been so impressive early dropped three shots in four holes late in his round to finish with 3 under 68.

Day was playing his first tournament in Australia since 2017 and if there was any suggestion that the crowd would not be as warm given his absence, Day was quick to put that to bed.

“No, I’m not too concerned about it. I mean, usually the Australian crowds are great. There’s never a problem. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I’m just not too sure how things would unfold. But it’s been great. The crowds have been fantastic and seeing a lot of junior golfers out there.

“It’s fun. It’s only going to get bigger and better as the week progresses, but also as this tournament gets better with BMW. I mean, I played with Wolfgang (BMW) yesterday and he says that we’re going to slowly improve this tournament, which is fantastic. I think that’s what Australian golf needs, a big backer like BMW, and Rolex always brings just that little bit extra to a tournament and a good feel of that. So yeah, no, it’s been great.

So how was his day out with his playing partners Smith and Lee?

“It was good. Yeah, no, it was great. I mean, obviously Cammy’s a big draw here. It’s nice to get out there and watch Min. It’s unbelievable how far that guy hits it. He seems like he’s got a lot of control. He just had just a couple of bad breaks and obviously some swings out there, but overall, he’s playing pretty solid. It’s always nervous to come back and try and defend.

“That’s always hard. And then when you’re in the marquee group, there’s a lot of people watching and it’s always a little bit more nerve-wracking coming back as a defending champ. So I would assume that he will settle in nicely over the next three days.

“And then also Cam, Cammy’s under the weather sick, poor fellow, which is not surprising. He was in the
hunt last week and it was pretty hot last week, but he’s a little bit under the weather but I think he’ll be fine come Sunday.”

Smith confirmed Day’s comments on his health but was not about to make too much of an issue with it.

Yeah, just I think Tuesday out here in the rain and then Wednesday in the rain, a couple of big weeks and stuff. I think it just got to me a little bit. I had a good rest yesterday afternoon, but yeah, just a little bit of a head cold thing.

“Nothing too bad. Just a little bit achy. Yeah, I’ll be right. I’ll live.”

LEADERBOARD

Jason Day gets his round underway today – image Australian Golf Media