Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC were the standout performers in the 2024 LIV Golf League, and rival teams will look to strengthen to close the gap on the Team Championship winners.
The Aussie quartet dominated the team standings and finished their season in style at the finale in Dallas. Smith’s influence on Ripper GC has been praised, and an unchanged Aussie side will run it back when the new season begins in February.
Despite Smith’s team seemingly set in stone ahead of the 2025 renewal, LIV Golf is eyeing new signings, and a recent DP World Tour winner has been tipped as the “perfect” fit for Ripper GC.
Elvis Smylie tipped to make LIV Golf move
Eddie Pepperell, speaking on the latest edition of the Chipping Forecast, believes Elvis Smylie is the ideal candidate to replace Matt Jones on Ripper GC when the time is right.
“It does raise some interesting questions,” Pepperell said. “You joked about LIV there, but that crossed my mind immediately.
“He (Smylie) seems he would be the perfect fit to replace someone like Matt Jones, who is a fourth and most obvious Ripper you could get rid of.”
Elvis Smylie fresh off BMW Australian PGA Championship victory
Smylie claimed the first victory of his career at the BMW PGA Australian Championship last weekend, and the 22-year-old could be one to watch ahead this year on the DP World Tour.
Smylie held off Smith in Brisbane on Sunday, carding a four-under 67 to finish on 14 under for the tournament. Interestingly, Smylie was one of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019 and can somewhat thank the LIV Golf star for his recent meteoric rise.
The Aussie prodigy is now set to go again as the Australian Open gets underway on Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt. Although a LIV move right now feels unlikely, there’s certainly scope for Smylie to explore a breakaway league move in the not-too-distant future.
LIV has made a habit of plucking out younger talent, and, given the success of Ripper, there’s no doubt most Aussie prospects would be open to competing on the Saudi-backed venture
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