After a golden summer season in Australia helped increase his profile on the worldwide stage, Elvis Smylie has been granted a chance to check his expertise in opposition to the world’s finest within the US PGA Championship subsequent week at Quail Hole.
The 23-year-old, who contested the British Open at Troon final 12 months, confirmed on Tuesday he’ll make his debut in an American main when he tees off in opposition to a area led by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Masters champion Rory McIlroy in simply over per week.
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Smylie, who completed in a tie for sixteenth in a match in China final week, can’t wait to move to North Carolina to play within the prestigious match and credited former British Open winner Ian Baker-Finch for his help.
“I’m actually excited for this chance,” Smylie mentioned in a put up on social media.
“Thanks to the PGA of America for the invite and to Chairman, Ian Baker-Finch, and his group on the PGA of Australia for all the assistance with this course of. I can’t wait and I’ll see you all at Quail Hole.”
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The gifted left-hander demonstrated he had the consistency of efficiency to warrant an invite to compete within the season’s second main by successful the Australian PGA Tour Order of Benefit.
The son of former Australian skilled tennis gamers Liz and Peter Smylie, he certified for The Open at Troon however didn’t make the reduce in particularly tough circumstances on the coastal course in Scotland.
However the expertise of enjoying in a area that includes modern-greats together with eventual champion Xander Schauffele helped him increase his recreation on returning to Australia for the summer season.
Smylie gained his maiden skilled occasion within the WA Open in October and a month later clinched the weather-shortened Australian PGA in Queensland when edging his mentor Cam Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, by two photographs.
The Queenslander completed 8-under within the Hainan Traditional in China final weekend, 9 photographs from the winner, after ending in a tie for fifteenth per week earlier within the China Open when ending at 6-under.
Smylie, who’s ranked 202, will be part of compatriots Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Davis and 2025 PGA TOUR winners Min Woo Lee and Karl Vilips at Quail Hole. It’s ten years since Day, a former world No.1, clinched his sole main title within the US PGA.
The Queenslander will once more characteristic in The British Open, to be held in Northern Eire at Portrush, as a prize for successful the Australasian Tour Order of Benefit after making his debut at Troon final 12 months.
In a nod to the popularity granted the Aussie tour, Smylie follows the earlier two champions David Micheluzzi and Kazuma Kobori in receiving invitations to play within the US PGA Championship.
This, the PGA of Australia’s basic supervisor of tournaments and international tour relationships Nick Dastey mentioned, is recognition of the standard of the fields who compete in Australia and New Zealand by the native summer season.
“We’re delighted Elvis has acquired one other alternative to play in opposition to the world’s finest gamers,” Dastey advised the Golf Australia web site.
“Our thanks go to the PGA of America for once more recognising our Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Benefit with a spot within the PGA Championship area.”
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