Anthony Quayle is benefiting from the wisdom of experienced caddie Steve Williams as he adjusts to his new status as a member on the DP World Tour.
The Australian has teamed up with New Zealander Williams – best known as Tiger Woods’ long-time caddie – for a double header of events on home soil, starting with this week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Quayle, who secured his playing privileges via the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this year, is one shot adrift of clubhouse leader Kazuma Kobori after rounds of 67-66 at Royal Queensland GC.
With Williams having left full-time caddie life since working with Adam Scott over a span lasting 11 years up to 2023, Quayle acknowledges the partnership won’t be for throughout his rookie DP World Tour campaign but he is enjoying the link up in Brisbane and for next week's Crown Australian Open.
“It won’t be a permanent fixture, but it will probably pop up from time to time," he told the DP World Tour.
"This is our first week on the bag and it just feels like we are playing pretty steady golf.
"It doesn’t feel like I am having to do anything miraculous or outrageous to give myself a chance.
"It’s probably just his demeanour; his professionalism rubs off on you if are in close proximity to it.
"It’s been just two days so far, looking forward to the next couple of weeks and any other time I get the opportunity will be great.”
Quayle was one of three players to secure his playing privileges via his home tour's Order of Merit earlier this year, alongside countrymen Ryan Peake and Jack Buchanan.
Reflecting on the dramatic climax to his season on home soil, the 31-year-old said: “That was incredible. It was a little while ago now, but it is still pretty clear in my mind.
“I had 212 metres, and the wind was pretty hard into out of the left. I hit a nice sort of high draw two iron that sort of fought the wind, landed on the green, got over a tier to about twelve foot and then rolled the 12-footer in.
"There was a leaderboard on 18 so I kind of knew that the putt had to go for me. I sort of had a rough idea where I needed to finish that week to guarantee one [a DP World Tour card].
"Knowing that some of the other guys had done well and they were up there on the leaderboard, I knew that putt had to go in so it was pretty awesome that I have that behind me.”
Since turning professional in 2017, Quayle has won twice on the PGA Tour of Australasia and is excited to see how his game travels around the world at new venues.
“I played in Japan for seven years and Japan is a great country but we’re always in the one country and I think being able to travel around the world and explore some new cultures and different places is going to be pretty fun for an Aussie fella to get out there and check out some new stuff,” he said.
