As LIV Golf debuts go, it could barely have worked out any better for new Ripper GC recruit Elvis Smylie as he held off Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm to win under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club.
The 23-year-old began the final round with a share of the lead with Peter Uihlein and the likes of Rahm and another debutant, PGA Tour winner Thomas Detry, in the chasing pack.
However, if he had any nerves as he went about his business, it barely showed at any stage, as he produced a blemish-free, eight-under 64 to finish on 24 under for the tournament and beat Rahm by one.
Smylie got off to the perfect start with a birdie at the first, and by the time he was walking off the sixth green, he was three under for the day as he exerted his authority on proceedings.
As he completed the front nine, Smylie led by one over Uihlein, with Rahm and Detry joining the American there on 18 under with birdies at the par-5 10th. Smylie soon matched them at the same hole and his lead became two.
Before long, another contender, David Puig, improved his chances of a maiden LIV Golf win no end with an eagle at the 13th to move to one back of the lead, before Smylie continued his flawless evening with his fifth birdie of the day at the 12th.
It was the start of a run of three birdies in a row, meaning that, after completing 14th, Smylie's lead was three with Detry, Puig, Uihlein and Rahm in what looked like a forlorn pursuit.
Smylie really ought to have gone four clear, but his short putt for birdie at the 15th missed, leaving him to clean up for par.
It briefly looked as though it could prove costly when Rahm closed the gap to two with a birdie at the 16th, before Smylie followed suit to once again lead by three.
Rahm wasn't done there though, and, after he rolled in a sizeable birdie putt at the 17th, the gap was back to two.
Knowing he couldn't hold back on the par-4 18th, Rahm went on the attack off the tee, brilliantly driving the green to set up an eagle chance.
He very nearly completed it, but his putt from around 20 feet drifted narrowly right, leaving him to make a birdie and bring the gap to one with Smylie still having a hole to play.
Needing just a par, it was Smylie's to lose, and it briefly looked like he might, or at least end up in a playoff with the Spaniard, when his approach failed to find the front of the green, leaving a mammoth two-putt to win it.
Was this the moment the nerves would finally tell? His answer was emphatic, rolling his first putt a couple of feet beyond the hole before getting the par he needed coming back for his maiden LIV Golf title and just the third of his professional career.
To make Smylie's day even better, Ripper GC won the team contest, holding off Torque GC by three.
Smylie's next stop is in his homeland for LIV Golf Adelaide, which begins on February 12th.
LIV Golf Riyadh Leaderboard
Individual
- 1st -24 Elvis Smylie
- 2nd -23 Jon Rahm
- 3rd -21 Peter Uihlein
- T4 -20 Abraham Ancer
- T4 -20 Thomas Pieters
- T4 -20 David Puig
- 7th -19 Thomas Detry
- 8th -18 Sebastian Munoz
- T9 -17 Lucas Herbert
- T9 -17 Branden Grace
- T9 -17 Byeong Hun An
Team
- 1st -69 Ripper GC
- 2nd -66 Torque GC
- 3rd -59 4Aces GC
Updates from...
BACK NINE BEGINS
We are moving into the back nine at LIV Golf Riyadh, and it's the circuit rookie, Elvis Smylie, who leads at 19-under, one ahead of Peter Uihlein, with both men three-and-two-under for their rounds.
Behind the pair is a big logjam at 17-under, which includes Jon Rahm and circuit newcomer Thomas Detry, with an intriguing back nine in-store at the season opener.
RAHM AND DETRY WITHIN ONE
The European pair of Rahm and Detry aren't giving up and, at the par 5 10th, both find birdies to jump to 18-under, one back of Smylie.
ELVIS TO 20-UNDER
Smylie's advantage temporarily moves to a single shot, but a birdie at the 10th puts him to 20-under and two ahead.
His two shot cushion is only momentarily, though, as Detry birdies the 11th and moves 19-under. It's getting tight here in Riyadh.
DOUBLE JOY AHEAD FOR SMYLIE?
Not surprisingly given Elvis Smylie's position at the top of the leaderboard, his Ripper GC team is also going great guns in the team standings, currently on 62 under, four clear of Torque GC. Could the Australian be in for a double celebration on his LIV Golf debut?
DEBUTANTS GOING STRONG
So, as things stand, two of the new signings are well within reach of victory - Smylie and Thomas Detry. Interestingly, had he not joined LIV Golf, it's highly likely Detry would have been in Arizona rather than Riyadh this week defending his WM Phoenix Open title.
RAHM IN THE HUNT
You wouldn't think Smylie had never played for LIV Golf before given how he's handling the occasion. He's four under for the day so far, with a par at the 11th keeping him one ahead. Among those breathing down his neck is Jon Rahm, though, who is two back of Smylie with six to play.
PUIG ON POINT
You can't write off David Puig's chances either. He did his chances no harm at all with an eagle at the 13th to move one back of the lead on 19 under. A par at the 14th means he remains right in the mix over the closing holes.
DETRY ON CUE
If Elvis wasn't all shook up (sorry!) by the threat of Thomas Detry, he maybe will be after the Belgian puts his second shot at the par-5 13th to within "reasonable opportunity" territory for an eagle.
COOL FROM ELVIS
And just when the pressure might have been building on the leader, he makes his fifth birdie of the day at the 12th. Soon after, Smylie's sister is interviewed on TV, and she explains that "nothing fazes him." You can tell!
TIGHT AT THE TOP
Does the talent of David Puig tend to fly under the radar a little? Maybe, although that will surely change if he wins his maiden LIV Golf title in Riyadh. He keeps the pressure well and truly on Elvis Smylie with another birdie to go seven under through 15 and 20 under for the tournament, one back of the leader.
At the 13th, Detry also makes a birdie to move to T2 alongside the Spaniard.
SMYLIE INCREASES ADVANTAGE
At the par-5 13th, Smlylie has the chance to triple his lead from one to three with an eagle putt. It's tracking beautifully, until the last moment when it veers left, and the Australian settles for birdie to move to 22 under.
BIRDIE FOR UIHLEIN
Peter Uihlein is also right in it after a birdie at the 13th moves him to 20 under, two back of the leader.
TALOR TOILS
One player we'd have expected to rattle in the birdies today is 2023 Individual Champion Talor Gooch, who has been either on top of the leaderboard or close to it for most of the week.
It hasn't really got going for him today though. He's now back in T10 with two to play.
SMYLIE LEADS BY THREE
At the 14th green, Uihlein's long birdie putt misses left before Smylie steps up and shows him how it's done with his third birdie in a row. Unreal composure from the debutant.
.@ElvisSmylie isn't slowing up 💪He sinks his 7th birdie of the day to clear the field by 3 with 5 holes remaining 📈#LIVGolfRiyadh | @rippergc_ pic.twitter.com/FrMARxZwRaFebruary 7, 2026
RAHM RALLIES
At the 15th, Jon Rahm makes birdie to move to 20 under, but he's still three behind and running out of holes.
RIPPER GC CLOSING IN ON WIN
For those keeping tabs on the team situation, Ripper GC captain Cam Smith has just strengthened the all-Australian line-up's grip on proceedings with a birdie at the third (his 12th of the day). Ripper GC is on 66 under, three clear of Joaquin Niemann's Torque GC.
ERROR FROM SMYLIE
A rare error from the leader as his short birdie putt at the 15th misses, leaving him to come back for par from a similar distance. He makes it and it's a case of no damage done.
SMYLIE CLOSING IN
Nerves creeping in for Smylie? You could be forgiven for wondering after his uncharacteristic miss at the 15th, but off the tee at the 16th, he sends it straight down the middle of the fairway and normal service resumes.
RAHM KEEPS PRESSURE ON SMYLIE
Jon Rahm needs birdies fast, and he gets one at the 16th to move to solo second on 21 under, still two behind Smylie. Is he still in with a chance?
SUPERB FROM SMYLIE
If anything, it's Rahm having the pressure applied to him, rather than him hunting down Smylie, and it's all down to the leader's performance. No sooner does Rahm close the gap to two than Smylie puts his second at the 16th to within a few feet to leave yet another birdie chance. The onus is well and truly on Rahm to keep pace, but it could be beyond him.
The left-hander then makes the birdie to move to 24 under.
PERFECT DAY FOR SMYLIE
Could this day get any better for Elvis Smylie? The Australian's closing in on victory on his LIV Golf debut, his team Ripper GC is top of the team leaderboard, and the next event is in his homeland at Adelaide. He'll get a hero's welcome there if he keeps this up.
RAHM REFUSING TO GIVE IN
Well, Jon Rahm is refusing to go down without a fight, rolling in a medium-ranged birdie putt at the 17th to move to two back of Elvis Smylie.
RAHM DRIVES GREEN AT 18TH
The 18th is a par 4 and Jon Rahm knows he can't hold back needing to close a two-shot lead on Smylie. Brilliantly, he finds the green, leaving it perhaps 20 feet from the hole, to give him an eagle chance. Wow!
CLOSE FROM RAHM, BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH
While we await Rahm's eagle attempt, Smylie faces a long putt at the 17th, and he leaves it short. No guarantees he'll make par here.
Now Rahm at the 18th. He'll level it up with an eagle here. He's taking a good, long look at it. And it goes, and it goes, but then just misses right and he'll finish with his fourth consecutive birdie to move to 23 under, but, crucially, trailling Smylie by one.
Moments later, Smylie makes par and that's all he needs at the 18th the win.
TROUBLE FOR SMYLIE
Smylie's tee shot is a little off the fairway left, so his second is a real tester - and, after a debate about the club to use, with shades of Tommy Fleetwood at the 2025 Travelers Championship, he leaves it far too short! That's not a simple two-putt from there - it barely reached the green. Remember, he needs par to win, with Jon Rahm just one behind.
BRILLIANT FROM SMYLIE
Jon Rahm is an interested observer as Smylie lines up his mammoth first putt. Away it goes and it's good enough. Just going past the hole. He'll have a couple of feet coming back to win it. Brilliant from the Australian.
ELVIS SMYLIE WINS LIV GOLF RIYADH!
The stage is set for Elvis, and he's rightly taking his time. He makes no mistake and Elvis Smylie is the LIV Golf Riyadh champion.
