[IMAGE: LIV Golf]
Cam Smith believes Ripper GC’s star recruit Elvis Smylie has the talent, grit and mindset to become the best golfer on the planet after the Queenslander turned heads with a surprise victory on his LIV Golf debut in Riyadh.
Smylie’s immediate impact has not only vindicated Ripper GC’s off-season list call, but also forced Smith and teammate Marc Leishman to confront the emotional reality of moving on from founding Ripper GC member and close friend Matt Jones.
Following the expiry of his LIV contract at the end of 2025, Smith made the difficult decision to cut Jones after four seasons together, a move the Ripper GC skipper described as one of the hardest of his career. Smylie’s breakthrough win has softened the blow – but not erased it.
“Yeah, I mean, it was an extremely tough decision to look elsewhere,” Smith said. “’Jonesy’ has turned into one of my best mates over the last four years out here. He’s a great guy. He’s a legend. I still love him.
“(Elvis’ victory) does make it feel a little bit better. But it’s still one of the hardest things I think I’ve ever had to do, which is – yeah, it was pretty brutal.”
Leishman echoed Smith’s sentiments, acknowledging both the personal difficulty and the football-style reality of professional teams evolving.
The 2025 Ripper foursome that included Matt Jones [far left]
“Obviously it was a tough decision for Cam. Like he said, (Jonesy) has become one of our best mates,” Leishman said. “I’d say Jonesy would say he hasn’t played like he’s probably wanted to play over the last couple of years, unfortunately.
“Like anything, teams progress, and I think, with all respect to Jonesy, it’s progressing in a good way. Elvis proved himself this past week, and hopefully we can continue to do that.”
For Smith, Smylie’s ceiling is frighteningly high – and the scary part is how much room there still is for growth.
“I don’t think he’s got a decision to make. I think he’s already decided – I think Elvis wants to be one of the best players in the world. He proved it this week,” Smith said.
[IMAGE: LIV Golf]
“The crazy thing is I still think he’s got a lot of improving to do, which is pretty scary, really, for the rest of us, because he waxed us this week.
“I genuinely think he can be the best golfer in the world. He’s got all the tools of the trade. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing and knuckle down. He’s got the mentality. He showed it out there today. He’s got the grit. He’s a Queenslander, so that comes with it [laughs].
“He has to decide where he goes from here, and I think it can only go one way, and it’s better.”
The Ripper team arrives in Adelaide this week full of confidence after their clean sweep of the individual and team titles in Saudi Arabia last week. Another huge crowd is expected to fill Grange Golf Club for the league’s new-look, four-day, 72-hole showpiece event.
Tickets are still available HERE.