'Going after it': Aussie young gun pumped for US major
Already believing he belongs and intent on becoming a "global player", Smylie is feeling anything but overawed ahead of his US major championship debut on Thursday.
"I feel like my game has gone to the next level after playing in Europe," said the young lefthander, who earned his DP World Tour card with victory at the Australian PGA Championship last November.
Victory at Royal Queensland relinquished Lee of the Joe Kirkwood Cup he won in 2023 before breaking through for his maiden PGA Tour win in March.
After following in Lee's footsteps at home, Smylie now hopes to nab some tips about how to play Quail Hollow from the world No.25 as well as major-winning compatriots Jason Day, Adam Scott and Cameron Smith, who are also in the field.
"Planning to have a practice round with a couple of the Aussies. Hopefully Min will be one of them and then Adam, Cam, Jason, yeah, whoever's available," Smylie told AAP.
The son of former Australian tennis star Liz Smylie made his major debut at last year's British Open and, while he missed the cut by two shots, the classy left-hander is also drawing confidence from matching Lee's 36-hole total and beating his buddy by five shots in round two at Royal Troon.
He knows he's got the game and grit to compete with golf's big boys - and is relishing the opportunity to prove it.
"When I look around and see the names I've played against, Rory McIlroy was in the field at the start of the year in Dubai," Smylie said.
"Jon Rahm and Adam Scott and world-class players that I've grown up watching on TV and then to be able to be competing against them, in the same tournament, I feel like I really do belong.
"I don't really get overwhelmed too much. I more think of this as an opportunity to see how good my game is against these guys.
"I played a practice round with Adam Scott last year at the Open and he was by far the most impressive ball striker.
"His ability to be able to shape shots left, right, high, low, he can do anything with the golf ball.
"So just visually seeing their games, I know know that I'm not too far away because I know that mentally I'm very gritty.
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going kind of thing, I quite embrace that. So this will be another great learning curve to see where my game's at again.
"I want to be playing against the best players in the world. I want to be playing in majors and I want to take my game globally."
Also excited to be reuniting with super-coach Ritchie Smith, the esteemed mentor who guides the likes of Min Woo and Minjee Lee and fellow major winner Hannah Green, Smylie is targeting more than just making the cut at Quail Hollow.
"I'd love to play all four rounds of the major. I think that's a realistic goal for me," he said.
"And then once we can get through those first two rounds well, then it's just about really embracing what you're feeling and just going after it."
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