The 27-year-old fired six birdies at home on Sunday to continue his declining streak in every round of his first major championship as he carded 74-69-68-67 to end a position ahead of Mark’s tied debut Hensby at the 15th Open also in Saint André.
“It was cool. One of the coolest days of my life. It was really cool. I had so much fun,” Quayle said.
“Listen, I’m a little speechless. I think I said it here earlier in the week, I got off to a bad start on Thursday and probably kicked myself out of the tournament to win.
“But, look, I felt like I could kind of dig in and play well the next few days and put in a decent result and see where it ends. But I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out.
Quayle flourished throughout the weekend with a combination of power shots, terrific touch around the greens and momentum.
He carried over the energy from his Friday night fight with the elements to push a shot clear of the cut line with a back nine 34 as the sun went down on the Old Course, and from there, it loaded like a freight train.
The Scottish crowd adopted him as one of their own because of his now-iconic mustache and Mohawk mullet and he fed off their energy to shoot 14 birdies in his final 36 holes.
Fellow Aussie Matt Griffin said earlier in the week that Quayle was one to watch and couldn’t have been more there.
“I’ve never played in a major, so it’s hard to really expect what I thought I could do,” Quayle said.
“But I don’t know, at the end of the day I tried to treat it like it was another golf tournament that I was trying to win and see where that got me. And I think that earlier in the week I got to play with a few big names in practice rounds and see them in the locker room, that sort of thing.
“Little by little, I overcame that. I felt more and more comfortable in my own skin at this level each day. Look, I think I felt like I could do it. I feel like I can fight. And yes. So I’m pretty speechless. I’m just pretty happy with the week.
The Japan Golf Tour regular will now enjoy two weeks off before heading to Singapore for an Asian Tour event and he will return to Japan from there with his sights set on an American move.
“I plan to go and play the Korn Ferry Tour school at the end of the year most likely,” he said.
“I want to play on the PGA TOUR for sure and at the start of the year I said I wanted to push a lot harder for that.
“In January of this year I said I really wanted to push for the US tour. I’m ready to get away from home and my family and do whatever I have to do to give it a good shot. I hope it does some of that, even instills some confidence in me, and I can hope to put some effort into it in the next year or two.
Before all that, he will first celebrate the achievement with his entourage of eight people who have cheered on his every shot this week.
“I’m probably going to be in pain tomorrow, I think. I have to go pack my things, but we’ll probably go for a few pints somewhere I think. Lots of fun,” Quayle said.
