Pep talk for Smylie as Leishman seeks revenge on Smith

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Pep talk for Smylie as Leishman seeks revenge on Smith

Elvis Smylie will tap into the brains of his tennis champion parents before attempting to stop Cameron Smith’s run at a fourth *********** PGA Championship.

The pair sit at 10 under, one clear of Smith’s LIV Golf compatriot and great friend Marc Leishman ahead of Sunday’s third and final round at the rain-shortened event at the Royal Queensland course in Brisbane.

Left-hander Smylie won his maiden professional event, the WA Open, a month ago and will relish the chance to topple the man whose scholarship he won just five years ago.

But first he’ll chat to his parents, former tennis professionals Liz and Peter, for some advice.

Liz won the Wimbledon women’s doubles title in 1985, three mixed doubles majors and has an *********** Open singles quarter-final appearance to her name.

Dad Peter was also a professional, playing the French Open mixed doubles with Liz.

“Even though tennis and golf are two different sports, they have a lot of similarities in order to have the attributes you need in order to get to the top,” Smylie said.

“I’ll definitely have a conversation with both Mum and Dad later on and just tell them how I was feeling out there and they’ll be able to help I’m sure.”

Smylie shot on to the scene with a red-hot run as a 19-year-old ********, only to then miss the cut in his first eight DP World Tour starts across 2021-22.

Better for the experience, he qualified for this year’s British Open, then won the WA Open in a playoff at Mandurah in October.

The 22-year-old’s game will be examined like never before against Smith, who would join Robert Allenby and Norman von Nida as a four-time champion if he lifts the Kirkwood Cup again.

Smith won back-to-back titles in 2017-18 at Gold Coast’s Royal Pines, then sent the nearby Breakfast Creek Hotel into a frenzy celebrating his 2022 triumph at the Royal Queensland layout.

Last year was a different story, Smith missing the cut after a career-worst second-round 78.

But, after a hesitant front nine in Thursday’s first round, the LIV Golf star and former world No.2 has found his stride and will have the crowd behind him on Sunday.

Smith and Leishman played in the final group in 2018, Smith pipping him by two strokes in a victory that still sparks debate between the pair.

“Leish and I are good mates and really good competitors as well,” Smith said.

“I think I got away with one there (in 2018).

“Leish is still salty about that one … still hasn’t lived that one down, so I won’t be saying anything.

“There’s probably a little bit of anger in his eyes.”

Jason Day (six under) is further back in a packed leaderboard, while defending champion Min Woo Lee (two under) survived the cut despite bogeying his final two holes on Saturday.

Cameron Davis, a former *********** Open champion and a winner this year on the US PGA Tour, is seven under, while David Micheluzzi and South ******** Aldrich Potgieter are eight under.

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