Rory McIlroy set to be among Elvis Smylie’s practice partners ahead of British Open
Elvis Smylie is rubbing shoulders with golf’s elite as he prepares for the biggest week of his emerging career.
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A practice round with superstar Rory McIlroy will be a treasured part of Elvis Smylie’s preparations for his maiden appearance in a golf major at this week’s British Open.
The 22-year-old Queensland left-hander has been in dreamland since qualifying for The Open earlier this month, and he’s set to leave no stone unturned in his bid to shine at Royal Troon.
Former Open champion and world No.2 McIlroy will be among Smylie’s practice partners this week along with Norwegian star Viktor Hovland and fellow Australians Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, one of his childhood heroes.
“I can’t wait,” a thrilled Smylie said.
“Just being surrounded by those kinds of guys, I do feel like I belong and I do feel like I can compete (at The Open). I’m really excited for the opportunity.”
That his first outing at a major is at Royal Troon is also special for Smylie.
Eight years ago he was at the Scottish layout with his parents Liz and Peter to watch Henrik Stenson edge out Phil Mickelson in one of the greatest head-to-head battles in major golf history.
It was on that trip that Smylie also had his first proper introduction to links golf.
“That was my first ever Open Championship (as a spectator), and I played at Prestwick that same week,” he said.
“As much as I was watching Troon, and watching Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson battle it out, that was my first real opportunity to play links golf and see what shots I needed to learn and what was required in order for me to be the best professional golfer I can be.
“Week in, week out, you’re always adjusting and adapting everywhere you go, so the biggest skill you can build is just being able to adjust and adapt and figure out that you need to be able to flight your ball when it’s really windy.
“Just stuff like that, that’s when you learn in tournaments, and playing at places like The National down in Melbourne where it blows a lot, I feel like I thrive in conditions like that. I play really well.”
Among his support crew at Royal Troon will be mother Liz, the former Australian tennis star who has just completed a commentary stint at Wimbledon.
“She hasn’t been to a tournament in a while now, so I’m looking forward to having her there and being able to walk the ropes with me,” Smylie said.
“She was at the Aussie PGA and the Aussie Open, but she didn’t walk though, but she’ll walk (this) week, even though she’s got a buggered knee.”
Despite both of his parents having played tennis professionally, Smylie’s preference was always to forge a golf career, particularly after being inspired by Scott’s Masters win in 2013.
“Growing up as a kid I always played tennis, but the thing is with tennis you always needed somebody to hit with,” he said,
“At the time my two sisters were living overseas, my mum’s knee was no good (and) my dad wasn’t in the best shape.
“My parents also lived at Bay Hill (in Florida) as well for 20-odd years when my mum was playing on the tour, so we’ve always had that golf and tennis relationship and connection, but growing up at The Glades golf resort on the Gold Coast, golf was always the thing.
“I would play every day before school and then come home and I’d have the flashlight on until it was pitch black on the chipping green.
“I didn’t have any aspirations or dreams of playing at Wimbledon like I did with golf in terms of winning The Open and winning at Augusta.
“I still remember where I was and what I was doing when ‘Scotty’ won the 2013 Masters.
“I was 11 at the time, so stuff like that gave me goosebumps, and those kinds of moments like seeing Adam win, I was like ‘that’s what I want to do for a career’.”
Originally published as Rory McIlroy set to be among Elvis Smylie’s practice partners ahead of British Open
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