New-age players are entering the field to make their mark among the top players. One name that has recently joined the pro club is a 22-year-old Australian golfer, Elvis Smylie, who is named after his dad’s favorite singer, Elvis Presley. He was born on April 23, 2002, in southeast Queensland, Australia into a family of sportspersons. However, the on-the-rise golfer did not start playing golf from childhood. Instead, he used to play tennis and soccer initially.

Later, he chose golf as his sport, which even his parents supported, with a strong family background in sports, especially Tennis. After choosing golf at the age of 10, he was joyful; “I really wanted to pursue it and be the best I could be. I joined Southport Golf Club. Their junior program was really good and I’m still a member there to this day – they’ve been great for me. The course is quite tight and strategic. You really have to plot your way around.”

Let us learn more about the Australian golfer.

Elvis Smylie comes from a sports family

His mother Liz and father Peter Smylie were professional tennis players. Liz even won 28 WTA doubles titles during the 80s and 90s with four grand slams. Being a sportsperson herself, there are little pieces of advice his mother gives him like, “Enjoy the journey,” and, “Enjoy the day-to-day process of getting better and making sure you’re doing all the 1-percent stuff and letting the result take care of itself.” He has tried to inherit these, more so, after turning pro.

Not only this but even his family and friends surround him with an impressive list of professional sportspeople. Some prominent family friends were Wayne Grady, Ian Baker-Finch, John McEnroe (professional golfers), and Ivan Lendl (professional tennis player). As a player, having parents and family friends from a sports background can be a great motivation. “The first text message I got when I turned pro was from Wayne Grady, and he said, “It’s just golf, mate. Nothing changes.”,” revealed the golfer.

Growing up with tennis as a hobby and now pursuing golf, he sees a few similarities between the two sports. His interesting take is that they are similar “in work ethic and what it takes to get to the top. The same principles apply. It’s interesting – when I’m at the Slams and I’m watching these guys, they’re all phenomenal tennis players, but I’m really paying attention to how they handle when things don’t go their way and their body language. That’s the little things I can use towards my game.”

The career of Elvis Smylie

Smylie started playing at the age of 10, and by the year 2019, he had become the champion of the Australian Boys’ Amateur. Even starting golf, not his first sport, he was able to make a mark in his career early on. He then was among the only two players who received the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019, which allowed him a week’s visit to Smith’s Florida base. He got personal mentorship during that week. After that, he won the Queensland Stroke Play Championship and the Keperra Bowl twice.

Later in his career, with the amazing performance at the amateur level, he turned pro in February 2021 at the age of 18. In that year, he finished runner-up twice at pro events, the Players Series, and the New South Wales Open. Smylie even set a course record of 63 on the Moonah Links during the National Tournament on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. But his urge to clinch his first title professionally still seemed far away.

The 2024 season for Smylie

Some players have good or bad days, while Smylie had a great year for his professional career. He won his first title in 2024 at the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Western Australia Open in October 2024. The final score recorded at the tournament was under 19. During the playoffs, he beat Jak Carter, which will be etched close to his heart as it was his first victory. He shared his feelings: “Just saying that I’ve qualified for The Open gives me goosebumps.” He stated, “The last time I went to it was at Royal Troon in 2016 when I was 14.”

Later on, he played alongside his idol and won his first DP World Tour victory at the Australia PGA Championship in November 2024. During the final round, he played multiple birdies and vital par saves to lead him toward victory. The left-hander defeated Cameron Smith with the final score of under 14 and two strokes. After the final round, he expressed his feelings about playing with his childhood idol: “I looked up to these guys since I was a kid, and just being in their presence and to compete against them for the title, I’ve learned so much and am just so grateful and honored right now.”

He is currently ranked at 253rd position, which is way up from where he started, i.e., 934th. This is just the start of being a great player who has started his career in a different sport from his family. As a golf fan, it is great to witness the new talent of the game showcasing their caliber in a course filled with experienced professionals. What are your thoughts on the Australian professional? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.