NEW YORK/AUSTRALIA: Ripper GC of the LIV Golf League announced the signing of Australian rising star Elvis Smylie on Thursday.
The team have secured one of the country’s top young talents as they continue to champion Australian golf globally. Smylie, 23, joins a roster that already blends seasoned champions with a competitive core.
He arrives after a breakout 2024-25 professional run that included a statement win at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
He joins Captain Cam Smith, one of the most accomplished Australian players; Marc Leishman, who delivered Ripper GC’s lone individual victory at LIV Golf Miami in 2025; and Lucas Herbert, a multiple international champion known for his consistency and short game.
“Growing up in Australia, you understand what golf means back home — the history, the mateship, and the pride that comes with representing your country,” Smylie said.
“To join Ripper GC, led by my long-term mentor, Cam Smith, at a time when Australian golf is growing the way it is means a lot to me. I’m proud to be part of something that embodies where the game has been, and where it’s going next.”
Smylie is a former recipient of the Cam Smith Scholarship for promising Australian golfers. He is the son of former Australian tennis doubles star Liz Smylie.
He had a defining stretch in late 2024, capturing his first professional victory at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisement Western Australia Open, and then one month later winning the Australian PGA Championship.
“Signing Elvis is a huge moment, not just for Ripper GC, but for Australian golf,” said Smith.
“He represents the next wave of Australian talent coming through at a time when the sport is absolutely booming back home. Elvis has already shown he can win under pressure, compete against world-class fields, and perform on big stages.”
More than 4 million Australians played golf in the past year, marking the most sustained period of growth in the sport in more than three decades. Junior participation and club membership continue to surge nationwide.
“Cam’s vision has always been to provide a pathway for young Australian golfers to excel on the global stage,” said Ripper GC General Manager Nick Adams.
“Elvis represents the best of all of the young crop of players currently in Australia, and we believe that his playing ability gives us the best chance of success in 2026 as a team.
“We are incredibly excited to have him as part of the group, and we look forward to helping him in his golf journey to become an elite player.”
Australian fans will see the new Ripper GC lineup at the supercharged LIV Golf Adelaide, Australia’s premier golf event. The tournament returns to The Grange Golf Club from Feb. 12 to 15.
A three-time winner of World’s Best Golf Event, LIV Golf Adelaide has drawn more than 260,000 fans and contributed over $217 million to South Australia’s economy since the event’s inception in 2023.
The 2025 event generated a record $81.46 million.
