[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Australian rising star Elvis Smylie is reportedly on the verge of joining LIV Golf and linking up with the all-Australian Ripper GC team for the 2026 season.
According to The Times, Smylie and world No.57 Thomas Detry are poised to be the latest high-profile additions to the Saudi-funded league, in what would be a significant move for both the young Queenslander and Cameron Smith’s squad, which also includes Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert.
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The Times report says that Smylie, currently ranked No.127 in the world, “will join Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC” following the departure of Matt Jones over the summer. Smylie was one of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019.
Exclusive: Thomas Detry and Elvis Smylie are both set to join LIV Golf. Detry, the world No57, won the WM Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour last year.https://t.co/GGcdIoXUjr
— Tom Kershaw (@trlkershaw) January 6, 2026
A number of Aussie stars had been linked to Ripper GC’s fourth slot – including PGA Tour talent Min Woo Lee – but it appears Smylie could be the man to step in after an impressive showing in Europe.
Smylie’s rise up the ranks has been rapid. A winner of the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship, where he edged Cameron Smith, he’s established himself as one of Australia’s most promising young pros and is coming off a top-10 performance at the recent Crown Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
The potential signing comes amid a turbulent offseason for LIV, which has seen departures – most notably, American superstar Brooks Koepka – and roster reshuffles as the league heads into its fifth season.