Aussie Elvis Smiley hit all the right notes in seizing a one-shot lead in the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship in Brisbane.
Smylie, 22 brilliantly birdied three of his closing four holes in a six-under 65 on the rain-softened host Royal Queensland course in the Queensland capital.
Four players – Frenchman Victor Perez, Swiss Joel Girrbach, Colombian Cristobal Del Solar and Aussie Matias Sanchez – share second thanks to rounds 66.
Eight others, including three-time past Australian PGA champion Cam Smith and fellow LIV star Marc Leishman along with Jason Day, share sixth at four-under.
Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and defending champ Min Woo Lee are among 17 players in posting three-under 68s.
All smiles – Aussie Elvis Smyle hits all the right notes in leading after day one of the 2024 Australian PGA. Image – PGA of Australia
However, it Smylie who’s smiling and managing to record eight birdies but posting also two bogeys.
“It’s great having all the Aussies back home and supporting the Australian tournaments,” Smylie said.
“And it’s great to compete against them because ultimately I want to be in their shoes and what they’re doing in their career.”
Despite the poor weather a big crowd made their way to the course affectionately known as ‘RQ’ and they weren’t disappointed.
Smith capped his round with four inward nine birdies and a week after finishing runner-up in last week’s NSW Open.
“I feel like I did all right in the front nine, getting up that early,” Smith said.
“The body I think takes a little bit of time to wake up. It just kind of wasn’t all clicking and yeah, probably just a bit of extra time I think was probably the biggest thing.”
Ramsay, and contesting the event for a first time in his career, had spent last week in Melbourne getting his game prepared by playing Australia’s continuing top-rated course and that is the West Course at Royal Melbourne.
And MK Kim was celebrating in acing the par-3 11th hole but missing out on a gleaming BMW that is only on offer over the weekend rounds.
