Elvis Smylie Holds Off Jon Rahm To Mark LIV Golf Debut With Win In Riyadh

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.

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.