LIV Golf 2026 Season Preview: Ripper GC

Ripper GC has been one of the most consistent teams in the league and will be even more dangerous in 2026 with a new addition to the team. 

2026 ROSTER 

Cameron Smith (captain), 32, Australia. LIV Golf starts (43); Best result (1st)
Marc Leishman, 42, Australia. LIV Golf starts (43); Best result (1st)
Lucas Herbert, 30, Australia. LIV Golf starts (26); Best result (T2)
Elvis Smylie, 23, Australia. LIV Golf starts (0); Best result (N/A)

OFFSEASON NEWS 

Ripper GC added one of the most talented young players in the world this offseason in Elvis Smylie. The 23-year-old replaced the 45-year-old Matt Jones, ensuring that the team will remain competitive for years to come. 

2026 OBJECTIVES 

• Win their second Team Championship. 

• Win LIV Golf Adelaide. 

• All four players to finish inside the Lock Zone.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS

Cameron Smith: Smith has three LIV Golf victories but went winless in both 2024 and 2025. The former Open Champion has arguably the best short game in the world, but his inconsistency with the driver has created some inconsistency in his game over the past few years. Smith has been open about his frustrating results and is working hard to regain the form that made him one of the best players in the world. I expect a bounce back season from Smith in 2026.

Marc Leishman: Leishman had a fantastic 2025, winning LIV Golf Miami and the Victorian PGA Championship in the fall. The veteran continues to play good golf in his early 40s and is coming off one of the best iron seasons of his career. When conditions are tough, Leishman has both the physical and mental tools to climb the leaderboard.

Lucas Herbert: Herbert has been inconsistent thus far on LIV Golf but when he’s in form, has the raw talent to compete with any player in the league. He is long off the tee and has an underrated short game. The 30-year-old should challenge for his first individual win in 2026.

Elvis Smylie: The addition of Smylie was a monumental moment for Ripper GC that should not be understated. The 23-year-old is undeniably the best young Australian player in the world, and his commitment to Ripper GC reaffirms the team’s standing in a country that has a rich golf history. Smylie is a smooth-swinging lefty who has the talent to impact the standings right away. 

WHAT THE STATS SUGGEST 

Ripper GC has consistently been one of, if not the best, team in the league when it comes to short game. In 2025, they ranked first in the league in putting and third in scrambling. Smith, Leishman and Herbert are all phenomenal on and around the greens and that will continue to be a strength of theirs in 2026. 

WHERE CAN THEY IMPROVE? 

Ripper GC’s wizardry around the greens have made up for a lot of deficiencies. Last season, they ranked last in the league in both driving accuracy and greens in regulation. The addition of Smylie, who is a solid player tee to green, should help; but they need more out of their captain in the ball-striking department in 2026. 

KEY QUOTES

Cameron Smith on the signing of Elvis Smylie: “Signing Elvis is a huge moment, not just for Ripper GC, but for Australian golf. He represents the next wave of Australian talent coming through at a time when the sport is absolutely booming back home. Elvis has already shown he can win under pressure, compete against world-class fields, and perform on big stages.”

Cameron Smith on his lack of positive results in 2025: “It can definitely get in your head; I think it is in my head. It’s just frustrating. It’s been my story of the year, I feel I’ve worked hard all year and got nothing out of it. I do know what the answer is; it’s just to keep working hard and try to be patient. I’ve tried to do all the right stuff, for whatever reason it’s not coming together on the course.”

Elvis Smylie on joining Ripper GC: “Growing up in Australia, you understand what golf means back home – the history, the mateship, and the pride that comes with representing your country. To join Ripper GC, led by my long-term mentor, Cam Smith, at a time when Australian golf is growing the way it is means a lot to me. I’m proud to be part of something that embodies where the game has been, and where it’s going next.” 

BOTTOM LINE 

Ripper GC will be rejuvenated by the addition of Smylie and are always among the most competitive teams on LIV Golf. If Smith can find some form, they will be a contender in the Team Championship. 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

• Cameron Smith will finish top-10 at The Masters. 

• Elvis Smylie will finish in the Lock Zone. 

• Ripper GC will win LIV Golf South Africa.