AROUND THE TRAPS WITH TOM BOSWELL AND JIM TUCKER

SKIPPING Wednesday’s pro-am at the Australian PGA paid early dividends for the Gold Coast’s Anthony Quayle (left).

He returned to Hills International College to catch up with a 3D biomechanics expert.

More than 80 wires and sensors were attached to him. He birdied three of his first five holes in yesterday’s first round.

BRISBANE’S Scott Hend was at short odds to be best dressed on “Yellow for Lyle” day as Royal Pines was covered in all shades of gold to honour Jarrod Lyle. The always colourful fashionista was in his element with bright yellow pants and genuine Italian leather yellow golf shoes.

INDIAN golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar got a warm welcome on the Gold Coast this week but not quite as friendly as the greeting when he arrived in Fiji earlier this year. When he stepped off the plane at Nadi Airport ahead of his Fiji International win in August, every local he encountered passed on an enthusiastic “Bula!”. The Fijian word for “hello” is “Bula”.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate fired a shot across the bow of controversy magnet Clive Palmer before the start of the tournament.

Speaking at the Greg Norman Medal dinner, Tate recalled the negotiation process with the PGA when the tournament was looking for a new home after Palmer butted heads with officials during the 2012 event at Coolum when vintage cars, giant American flags and Jeff (the massive mechanical dinosaur) were added to the course. “There’s no dinosaur on this course … and there never will be,’’ Tate said. It’s fair enough to have a shot at Clive. But leave poor Jeff (right) alone.