Gold Coast golfer Anthony Quayle in frame to win Australian PGA Championship days after getting married

Anthony Quayle’s unique preparation for the Australian PGA Championship looks to be paying dividends with the newlywed putting himself in the frame for the title early on the Gold Coast.

DAYS into his marriage and professional golfer Anthony Quayle is already hiding his wedding ring, but not for reasons you might think.

Quayle and new wife Sophia tied the knot on Sunday and have delayed their honeymoon so he can play in the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines in Benowa.

The decision could pay dividends with the newlywed putting himself in the frame for the title early on the Gold Coast.

“I was planning to (take it off) but in the practice round I hit a few shots with it and forgot I had it on so it stayed on,” Quayle said.

“It is a basic ring for that reason because if I have to take it off all the time I’ll 100 per cent lose it.”

Sophia is cheering Quayle on at the course throughout the tournament and didn’t mind delaying celebrations to give her husband, wearing a glove over the ring, the best chance at ending the 2019 with a win.

“She is pretty cruisey,’ Quayle said.

“We organised to stay here for Christmas with the family anyway and then we will leave on Boxing Day.”

It looked to become a flawless round but a double-bogey on hole 14 and a bogey on 17 stopped him from sitting atop the leaderboard.

Quayle and Sophia were married at his home course but that was as close as he got to playing for over a week before the PGA.

The Sanctuary Cove member finished Round 1 of the PGA tied for 15th at two-under par courtesy of three straight birdies on the front nine and another on hole 12, a 508m par 5.

It looked to become a flawless round but a double-bogey on hole 14 and a bogey on 17 stopped him from sitting atop the leaderboard.

Anthony Quayle of Australia plays an approach shot during Day Four at the Fiji International Golf Tournament on August 5, 2018 in Natadola, Fiji. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Quayle said he originally set the date for his wedding before the golf tournament was moved back to a later time, meaning he spent the lead-up preparing for the wedding and not touching a club before practice on Tuesday.

“We had a lot of family in town and a lot of things to organise so even if I wanted to I probably didn’t have time,” Quayle said.

‘HANDS OFF THE PGA’: COAST FIGHTS FOR EVENT

“I actually hit them all right in the practice round.”

Quayle said he probably needed the downtime after a busy period where he played 10 of 11 weeks on the Japan Tour, finishing 14th in the Tour Championship.

The PGA means Quayle had to delay his honeymoon, but it could be well worth it if he wins the tournament that carries a prize purse of $1.5 million.

The couple will then jet off on Boxing Day to Europe for three weeks.

Gold Coast-based pro Anthony Quayle in yellow shirt honouring Jarrod Lyle for upcoming Australian PGA Championships to be held at Royal Pines IN 2018. Picture: Adam Head

“It’s going to be so good. To be honest I wouldn’t mind staying at home for a while in my own bed. “Hopefully I only have one honeymoon so I’m looking forward to that.”

Quayle’s form in Japan has set him up for a big 2020 where he will hold an improved status in Japan and have access to the Tour’s best, including five events worth around $3 million (AU) each.

“The most prestigious one is the Japan Open,” Quayle said.

“The winner of that gets a couple of majors, a couple of WGCs and a five or 10 year exemption on tour. That is probably the one I guess that I’m really excited about being in.”

The Australian Open has clashed with some of the bigger Japan Tour events but Quayle spoke of his desire to play in the tournament in 2020.

“I’d rather win an Australian Open than something else,” Quayle said.