LIV Golf has confirmed the signing of Australian rising star Elvis Smylie, who will be a part of Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC squad for the 2026 season.
In response to the PGA Tour welcoming again LIV exile Brooks Koepka, the insurgent league additionally introduced the recruitment of Byeong Hun An, and the re-signing of basis celebrity Dustin Johnson.
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Smylie’s signing comes after a breakout 18 months for the 23-year-old, who received the 2024 Australian PGA Championship, beating out runner-up Smith.
“Rising up in Australia, you perceive what golf means again residence – the historical past, the mateship, and the pleasure that comes with representing your nation,” Smylie mentioned.
“To affix Ripper GC, led by my long-term mentor, Cam Smith, at a time when Australian golf is rising the best way it’s means lots to me.
“I’m proud to be a part of one thing that embodies the place the sport has been, and the place it’s going subsequent.”
In a seperate interview with Australian reporters, Smylie mentioned he was satisfied by the imaginative and prescient LIV has for the longer term, regardless of uncertainty with the PGA Tour after Koepka’s departure.
He added: “I imagine that is the following step for me with the intention to be the golfer I need to be. You have a look at the roster right here – there’s so many main champions who’ve had a lot success – and I really feel like that is the following step to attempt to be taught as a lot as I can off them.
“Taking part in globally is an enormous aim of mine. That is the following path for me.
“When it comes to Brooks leaving, everybody has their very own causes on why they depart but it surely didn’t have any repercussions on why I needed to hitch. I’ve acquired targets and ambitions of eager to do lots of nice issues individually right here, but additionally as a workforce.”
Smylie joins an Australian workforce that features captain Smith, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert.
“Signing Elvis is a large second, not only for Ripper GC, however for Australian golf,” Smith mentioned in a press release.
“He represents the following wave of Australian expertise coming by way of at a time when the game is totally booming again residence. Elvis has already proven he can win beneath strain, compete towards world-class fields, and carry out on large levels.”
Brooks Koepka quits LIV, returns to PGA | 01:26
Smylie might be in motion at LIV Golf Adelaide, hosted by The Grange Golf Membership from February 12-15 this yr.
“Cam’s imaginative and prescient has at all times been to supply a pathway for younger Australian golfers to excel on the worldwide stage. Elvis represents one of the best of all the younger crop of gamers at present in Australia, and we imagine that his enjoying skill offers us one of the best likelihood of success in 2026 as a workforce,” Ripper GC Normal Supervisor Nick Adams mentioned.
“We’re extremely excited to have him as a part of the group, and we stay up for serving to him in his golf journey to turn into an elite participant.”
Elsewhere, two-time main champion Dustin Johnson, the 4Aces GC captain, has penned a multi-year extension with LIV Golf, committing his future to the Saudi-backed circuit.
Byeong Hun An, in the meantime, will entrance the Korean Golf Membership alongside Danny Lee, Younghan Tune and Minkyu Kim.
It comes as a number of LIV Golf stars had been provided an ultimatum by the PGA Tour after former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka formally rejoined the Tour.
Smith, two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and former world No. 1 Jon Rahm have been given till February 2 to use for reinstatement to the PGA Tour after the ‘Returning Member Program’ was launched to facilitate Koepka’s comeback.
The ‘Returning Member Program’ is barely an choice for gamers who’ve received a significant championship or the Gamers Championship for the reason that males’s recreation was break up in two in 2022, which means Smith was eligible courtesy of his triumphs at TPC Sawgrass and St Andrews that yr.
Smith set to stick with LIV Golf | 00:34
Nevertheless, the Australian rejected the olive department, telling reporters in Florida this week that he won’t be following Koepka again to the PGA Tour.
“I’m going to remain, mate,” Smith mentioned.
“I’ve decided to return right here and I’m standing by it.”
DeChambeau and Rahm have additionally recommitted to the insurgent league.
In the meantime, LIV Golf’s founding chief and visionary Greg Norman has responded to the newest developments.
Regardless of his position in getting LIV Golf off the bottom and guiding it by way of its first three full seasons, Norman mentioned he’s pleased to see gamers have the chance of returning to the PGA Tour.
Chatting with Fox Information within the US about free company, he mentioned: “Look… that was my final aim.
“We’re [pro golfers] impartial contractors, proper? So to me, to be a free agent, to have the ability to have a alternative about the place you needed to go, the way you needed to go, the place you needed to play, I believe it was actually vital for me.”