One LIV win did wonders for Elvis Smylie’s his bank balance. Now for his Masters plan

2 weeks ago 9

Emerging Australian golfer Elvis Smylie has set his sights on entering the world’s top 50 by the end of March to earn entry into this year’s US Masters after victory in his first LIV Tournament in Riyadh.

The stunning LIV Golf debut at the weekend elevated Smylie from 133rd to 77th in the world, and was good timing for the 23-year-old, coming in the same week Official World Golf Rankings decided to recognise the rebel tour’s tournaments for the first time.

Elvis Smylie back in his home country for LIV Adelaide after making a stunning debut on the tour.

“The Masters is something that’s on my mind now. That’s a conversation that I can start to have, and that is fuel to the fire for me,” Smylie said on Tuesday.

Not only did his ranking skyrocket, but Smylie’s four rounds in Riyadh earned him more than twice as much money as he earned playing golf throughout 2025.

He claimed the $US4 million winner’s cheque plus a percentage of the $US3 million prizemoney Ripper GC earned for winning the team’s event by dropping a three-foot putt to hold off the fast-finishing Jon Rahm.

The cash he pocketed in Riyadh put the $1.75 million he earned playing 25 tournaments in Europe and the US PGA last year in the shade, and was a huge boost on the $340,000 he earned for winning the 2024 Australian PGA.

The estimated $5 million purse is serious money for a 23-year-old, particularly when you consider former Australian golfer Greg Norman’s career earnings were $14,484,458. Current Australian golfer Min Woo Lee earned $1.71 million in prizemoney when he scored his first PGA Tour win in Texas last season.

Lee’s career earnings are $9,185,496, having won his PGA Tour card in 2024 via the DP World Tour.

However, the number Smylie is focusing on is his world ranking, as LIV moves to The Grange on Thursday for its Adelaide tournament.

“I have goals that I want to achieve from a ranking point of view. I’m continuing to progress in the direction that I want to and play my way into majors, which is something that I’m very passionate about doing,” he said.

Cam Smith remains a fan favourite in Australia

LIV golfers who fill the top 10 placings of a LIV Tournament will now earn ranking points under the controversial ruling. Players who are inside the top 50 on March 30 earn entry into the US Masters at Augusta.

“Top 50 in the world means that you get in all four majors, which I’m very close to achieving, so it’s great that we do get recognition. At the end of the day, good golf takes care of itself,” Smylie said.

His ranking his way ahead of his Ripper GC captain, Cam Smith, who has automatic entry to the majors while on the LIV tour because he won the 2022 Open Championship.

Smith, once No.2 in the world, is now ranked 227 after being unable to earn points playing LIV Golf until this year.

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