Golfer Elvis Smylie following in his mum Liz’s footsteps toward professional sport career

Elvis Smylie knows well what it takes to make it to the top of sport — he only needs to look to his mum for inspiration as he pushes for a berth on golf’s most lucrative tours.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 23: Elvis Smylie of Queensland plays a shot during day one of the 2023 Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club on November 23, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Named after the king of rock n roll, Elvis Smylie has heard all the puns before.

As a rising golf star, the one he hears most often is the line about being ‘caught a trap’ – a play on the opening lyrics to Presley’s hit single Suspicious Minds.

It’s a harmless quip that he takes in his stride, which is just as well because golf can be a cruel sport, and Smylie has just experienced a rare setback in his otherwise impressive progression through the game’s ranks.

He just missed out on qualifying for the lucrative European Tour, now known as the DP World Tour and regarded as the last stepping stone to the PGA Tour.

Just 21, and only in his third season as a professional, there’s no shame in that because he’s only just getting started and his best is yet to come.

Elvis Smylie on course at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

He still qualified for the second-tier Challenger Tour and despite just missing out on the main Tour, he’s smart enough to realise it could turn out to be the best thing that has happened to him because the sport is full of players who have crashed and burned because they’ve been pushed too quickly, too soon.

As the son of a famous tennis player, Smylie is well versed in knowing that patience pays off.

“Everyone is on their own path, their own journey,” he said.

“When people say ‘he’s become an overnight success’, I think it’s because they’ve spent years and years preparing.”

Smylie, whose mother Liz won four grand slam doubles titles, hasn’t won a big event since he turned professional in early 2021 but is still tracking well.

Liz Smylie volleys during her tennis career.

On Thursday, at the Australian PGA, he shot a brilliant opening round of 3-under 68 at Royal Queensland to finish the first day tied for 12, showcasing his enormous talent by draining a 20-foot downhill for birdie on the first hole.

The Australian Amateur Boys champion in 2019, Smylie has already had a taste of the big time, given invitations to play alongside some of the world’s top players, including Australia’s best as well as major winners Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer.

But life as a pro has been tough – not that he has any regrets. On the contrary, he’s thankful for the struggles he’s facing.

“I think the last two and a half years have been a blessing in disguise for me because I think everything that I’ve gone through and experienced will put me in good stead moving forward,” he said.

“I really think it’s going to help shape me into the person that I’ll be in five, ten years time and when I look back on all this, I’ll know that everything happened the way it did for a reason.

“I’m still just learning as much as I can and I’m very lucky that I’ve got a lot of great people around me supporting me and guiding me in the right direction.

“I’m actually really excited about the future and I really feel like I’m going to do something special these next 12 months.”

With plans to tackle the European Tour on hold, Smylie’s immediate goal is to try and claim an elusive on the Australian tour before playing Challenger events.

His biggest supporters remain his doting parents, who arrived at Royal Queensland just after dawn on Thursday to watch his opening round and followed him round until he finished the 18th and signed his card.

Liz Smylie with her son Elvis when he was four years old.

“Mum was here at 5:30 this morning with all the food for me ready to go,” Smylie said.

“They help me a lot with all their experience and knowledge and guidance, especially having played tennis at a professional level.

“Even though it’s a different sport, it’s got a lot of similarities in terms of the work ethic that you need to put into your craft each and every single day.”

“I’m just very grateful for that experience. And everybody gets to witness that.”