Anthony Quayle
(Golf Australia Photo)
INCHEON, South Korea (October 5, 2016) -- If you've ever picked up a golf club, the lure of Augusta National needs no explaining.
Usually the dreams of most elite amateurs are dominated by turning professional, but these priorities change when you throw an event like the Asia-Pacific Amateur into the mix.
Just ask Queensland’s Anthony Quayle, who is one of six Australians who will contest the 2016 edition at the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, Korea.
If any of Quayle, Cameron Davis, Harrison Endycott, Travis Smyth or Brett Coletta were to win this week, they will join US Amateur champion and fellow Aussie Curtis Luck in the 2017 US Masters field -- providing they maintain their amateur status.
Alongside Davis, Quayle is coming off a high of advancing through the opening stage of Web.Com Tour School over the weekend.
Sitting on the top-25 qualification line with ten holes to play in his final round, Quayle reeled off three birdies and two eagles on the way home to advance with conviction.
With a four hour drive from Florence, South Carolina to Atlanta International Airport following his flourishing finish, you wouldn’t blame the Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club member if he daydreamed of making a professional start on tour next year.
But smack bang in the middle of that drive is Augusta National, and Quayle couldn’t help himself.
“I pulled into Augusta and stood at the front gate and had a look, and I was sort of peeking through the cracks there and it gave me that extra motivation to be there in April next year,” Quayle said.
“The gate is looking down Magnolia Drive. It’s a tall green gate and there’s no holes to look through but you can see bits and pieces.
“It’s not much but it’s enough to get a bit of a taste driving past you can see the back of one of the greens, but I wouldn’t have a clue which one it is.
“Just being there and knowing where it is and what’s happened there and seeing the grand entrance of Augusta National Golf Club and the big sign saying it’s the home of the Maters, it was very cool to see today and it’s really motivated me for next week.”
As a professional, Quayle needs to jump more than hoops to earn a gig at the Masters, an honour usually bestowed upon the world’s top 50 golfers, or any winners in the past year on the PGA Tour.
But as the 7th highest ranked golfer in this week’s field of 120, Quayle stands a great chance to fast track his journey to the most alluring event in golf.
After a week of aiming for the top-25 at Q-School, Quayle is well aware of the high stakes nature of the Asia-Pacific Amateur. The prize pool drops off dramatically after first place, with a start at a British Open Qualification event for 2nd, and nothing but rankings points for 3rd and below.
“I’m glad I’m in a position where [a Masters start] is something I get to think about,” Quayle said.
“This week may lead to me having a chance to hole a putt coming down the stretch to get into the Masters. Regardless of the outcome, these high-pressure moments are something you’re going to learn from pretty quickly.
“It’s something on the line that’s everything you’ve dreamed of for your whole life.
“If I was living in America I recon I’d be driving up to Augusta National every weekend just to have a bit of a look and get a bit of motivation from that.”
ABOUT THE
Asia-Pacific Amateur
The Asia-Pacific Amateur (formerly known as the
Asian Amateur) is the first of a series of
worldwide
championships put together by a between the
Asia
Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters
Tournament and The R&A. The event offers the
winner an invitation to the Masters Tournament at
Augusta National Golf Club and the British Open
Championship.
The event has historically moved throughout the
region and has now been held in China,
Japan, Singapore, Thailand,
Australia and Hong Kong, Korea, and New
Zealand.
A field, topping out at 120 players, is selected by
the
following criteria.
The top two ranked amateur players from
each
of the APGC member countries plus the four
top ranked players from the host country. If
there is not a sufficient number of players
ranked from that member country, the
member
country may nominate a player(s) from
their
country, to be approved by the APGC, to
fulfill
the two positions eligible from that country.
The remainder of the field will be filled
taking
the next highest ranked players of APGC
member countries, not otherwise qualified.
The
maximum number of eligible players from
any
APGC member country (with the exception
of
the host country) is six. Additional players may
be offered at the event's discretion.
View Complete Tournament Information