Anthony Quayle in the heat of Torino

QUAYLE LOVING THE HEAT IN TORINO

It's not every week the DP World Tour sends its players out in shorts, but that's exactly what's happening this week at the Italian Open, with temperatures soaring at Circolo Golf Torino. For Anthony Quayle, who grew up in the heat of Nhulunbuy and Queensland, it's a welcome change from the European norm.

“It's probably right on the edge, I would say, but I've got to be honest, I'm quite liking it. I feel like I play a lot better in this kind of climate than what I do in 13, 14 degrees, windy and rainy. I think it probably plays into my favour a little bit around here this week.”

Quayle says it's rare to see the DP World Tour in shorts, and with the forecast holding firm for all four days, the West Australian-style conditions could well suit him over the week ahead.

FIRST LOOK AT THE COURSE

This is Quayle's maiden visit to Circolo Golf Torino, which returns to host the Italian Open for the first time since 2014. He's done his homework, playing nine holes on Monday and a full 18 on Tuesday ahead of Thursday's opening round.

“They're definitely pumping a lot of water on it to just protect it from the heat, so the greens are playing quite soft right now, but they're rolling great. The actual course layout is awesome – it's a real parkland kind of golf course, a little bit tree-lined with narrowish fairways, but the holes have some nice shape.”

Quayle says the course rewards versatility off the tee rather than just length. “You sort of need to hit a couple draws, a couple fades. There's options too – if you want to take it on with driving, you absolutely can, and there's other times where you need to sort of lay back a little bit. It's not just a really boring golf course where you just have to hit it.”

One hole has already given the field plenty to think about in practice – a tree-lined par three where half the tee box is effectively unusable thanks to overhanging branches on the left. Quayle says the trickery doesn't stop there, with the green sloping from short left to long right.

“It's a little bit unorthodox, but it's still great. The tricky part is it suits a fade because the green kind of goes from short left to long right, and it all sort of slopes right to left. So you really want to be working it in from the left, but then you've got the overhang on the left-hand side, which makes it a little trickier.”

THE PATHWAY DEBATE

Quayle earned his European tour status through the PGA of Australia's Order of Merit pathway, one of two players to graduate straight to the DP World Tour before the system was adjusted for the season just gone. Under the new arrangement, Travis Smythe heads straight to the main tour, while Cam John and James Marchasani have instead landed on the Hotel Planner (Challenge) Tour.

“I feel probably just personally disappointed for the boys that they aren't straight out here as well. From what I hear, the Challenge Tour follows us not too dissimilarly – we're in similar areas, and there's a couple of Aussie guys out there right now. It's a long way from home, but it's tricky.”

Quayle explains the categories cut both ways. As a category 18 player, he misses out on a number of events that category 15 players – those who earn their card via the Challenge Tour – are guaranteed to play.

“It's more effort to obviously get to the main tour, but it probably gives you a bigger leg to stand on once you're on the main tour.”

LIFE ON THE ROAD

After seven years competing in Japan, Quayle is adjusting to a different kind of grind in Europe. The travel itself isn't the issue – it's the length of the stretches away from home.

“The biggest difference out here is you're away from home for longer stints. When I was in Japan, if I had a week off, I could fly home. Here, your first five days are a write-off with jet lag, then you get four or five good days, but you're flying back a few days early to get over the jet lag before the next event. For me, two weeks away is not enough – you need a minimum of three.”

Quayle hasn't been home since Shanghai, closing in on four months on the road. But he's not complaining – he says the variety of competing across Europe beats the repetition of touring the same country week after week.

“I'm having probably the most enjoyable year of my career away from the golf course. Every experience, every single week, and I'm loving that.”

ASSESSING THE SEASON

On the course, it's been a season of extremes for Quayle. He says he's either right in the mix or struggling to find his game, with little in between – but the overall picture is a positive one heading into Turin.

“It's been rocks and diamonds, really. I feel like I'm either contending to win or bottom dwelling a little bit, which is a bit of a shame. But spirits are pretty good, and I don't want to get ahead of myself – my game feels really, really good at the moment. I think the next few weeks are going to be really good.”

Quayle tees it up this week at the Italian Open chasing more of that form, in conditions that – for once on the European swing – feel like home.