[Photo: Getty images]
Popular Australian golfer Anthony Quayle has enlisted Tiger Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams to carry the bag for two weeks as he begins his opening swing of tournaments as a DP World Tour member.
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The Northern Territorian was one of the feel-good stories of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasian season when he gave up status on the lucrative Japan Tour to chase one of three DP World Tour cards on offer for the best order of merit finishers on his home circuit.
He birdied the final hole of the Aussie season to snare the third European card. A year on, Quayle, from Nhulunbuy in the NT, begins his DP World Tour membership at this week’s co-sanctioned Australian PGA at Royal Queensland and next week’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
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The 31-year-old has won the Queensland Open and PGA and is hoping to step up to this week’s Australian PGA, one of the two Aussie majors.
As he sets sail on the European circuit, Quayle called in the services of New Zealand’s legendary caddie Williams, who was on the bag for 13 of Woods’s 15 major wins between 1999 and 2011, as well as for Adam Scott during his triumph at the 2013 Masters.
“I’m just incredibly fortunate that Steve was willing to come and help me out,” Quayle told Australian Golf Digest on Wednesday. “It’s just a really cool experience. I think having somebody like Steve on your bag, you can’t help but feel you’ve maybe got a 15th club in the bag. There’s a fair bit of experience and golf IQ that comes along with his career. Just really excited about the next couple weeks.”
Auckland-based Williams has retired from caddieing after four decades that included working for Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Ray Floyd, Woods and Scott. This year, he penned a book, Together We Roared, with your correspondent.
The 62-year-old Williams enjoys helping out young tour pros and Quayle was eager to pick his brains about the requirements to compete at golf’s highest level.
“Anthony’s had a lot of experience and he’s got the great opportunity this year of playing on the DP World Tour,” Williams told Australian Golf Digest of Quayle, who finished top 15 at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, won by Cam Smith. “It’s a first time experience for him and he’s got the talent and ability. If I can pass on any information that might assist him in his journey, it’s worth it. I don’t look at it from the results standpoint these two weeks, it’s about what he can get out of me and to encourage him to fulfil his potential.”
Aside from caddieing for Scott at the 2022 Australian PGA at Royal Queensland, Williams said his memories of the Brisbane course were watching Norman practise in the 1980s with his legendary coach Charlie Earp, who was the long-time head professional at “RQ”.
Asked what he had learned in two days working with Williams, Quayle said it was all about preparation and focus.
“Probably the way we’ve approached the event,” Quayle said. “I think it’s less time, more focus. Steve’s introduced me to preparing and keeping it fun and lighthearted but really engaged at the same time. I’m listening to some of the stories and the experience and trying to draw on a bit of that as well. For me, there is an educational aspect and an aspirational aspect to it.”
Next week’s Australian Open will see the winner invited to play the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, as well as the top three (not already exempt) on the leaderboard receiving a start in the Open Championship.
“Anthony’s got the game,” Williams said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him play up close and that should he be fortunate enough to get a win at the Australian Open, he’s got the game to play at Augusta.
“Everybody next week will be excited. It just brings another level to the Australian Open. It’s a fantastic event in itself and if you look at that Stonehaven Cup through the years, and the great players who travelled the world and won the Australian Open, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus for example, and it was always considered along with the Canadian Open, outside of the majors, as one of the most important tournaments in golf.
“Now that the Augusta is inviting the winner to play the Masters, it just gives an added edge a bit more importance to it. So there’ll be a lot of on the line next Sunday afternoon.”