For Australian golfer Travis Smyth, the LIV Golf dream has never drifted far from sight. First ignited by a breakout performance at International Series England in 2022, that ambition now comes back into focus as the 31-year-old prepares to tee it up at the LIV Golf Promotions event in Florida this month.
Smyth will be among the players teeing up from Round 1 at LIV Golf Promotions, earning his place as one of the top 40 finishers on The International Series Rankings in 2025. Held at Black Diamond Ranch Golf & Country Club from 8–11 January, the event offers three final spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League.
That pathway through The International Series has shaped both Smyth’s game and his perspective. Reflecting on the Series that helped earn his place at Promotions, the Australian highlighted the elevated standard and unique atmosphere of the Series.
“The International Series events are on another level compared to regular tournaments,” Smyth said. “The courses are great, the fields are stronger, and there’s just more hype around them. They feel like a big deal. Plus, we get to travel to some amazing destinations, which makes it all so exciting.”
Smyth describes the set of elevated events on the Asian Tour’s schedule as a genuine career catalyst, a platform which brings players closer to the sport’s highest level while demanding their very best.
“These tournaments are a huge opportunity to change our lives,” he said. “Getting onto LIV Golf is a big goal and achieving that would truly change my life financially. I honestly call these events ‘our majors’ because they mean the most to us.”
The 2025 season proved a fluctuating but formative one for the Shellharbour native. This year, Smyth posted two solid tied-10th finishes at International Series India presented by DLF and International Series Macau presented by Wynn. He also impressed on the Asian Tour with a tied third at the Mandiri Indonesia Open and a tied seventh at the Yeangder TPC, even if consistency occasionally proved elusive.
“My journey has been full of ups and downs, but I’m still living out my dream,” Smyth reflected. “I wake up every day excited to get to the course and work on improving my game. Professional golf can be tough, but when I take a step back, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. I love what I do.”
Smyth’s path into the professional ranks was anything but conventional. A former rugby player, he first picked up a golf club at age 12 after a friend suggested hitting balls around a football field. The addiction was immediate.
“I fell in love with the feeling of a well-struck shot flying through the air,” he said. “My dad was a decent player and, along with a local coach, taught me the basics at Port Kembla Golf Course.”
A standout amateur victory — winning a professional event in Australia by seven shots — was a pivotal confidence boost, easing his transition into the pro game. Another milestone followed in 2022 at International Series England, where a runner-up finish qualified him for three LIV Golf events and reinforced what was possible.
“That week in England was special,” Smyth said. “I went in with no expectations and ended up finishing second. It showed me I belonged at that level.”
Despite the inevitable frustrations of life on tour, Smyth’s motivation remains unwavering, driven by a mindset focused firmly on improvement and playing in the moment.
“My brain is wired to get better,” he said. “I always want to improve, no matter the result. Golf teaches you that nothing is really in your control. You just focus on what’s in front of you, give your best effort, accept it, and move on.”
“My main goal is to advance to LIV Golf through the opportunities the Asian Tour and The International Series provide,” he said. “That’s the dream — and I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of a set of elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings Winner & Runner-Up promotion to the LIV Golf League.
