Fiji’s national hero Vijay Singh is returning home to compete in one of the country’s most prestigious sporting tournaments.
Singh’s announcement has been highly anticipated by sports fans in Fiji who are sure to give their home grown world star a rousing reception when he competes in the Fiji International at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 15-18 October.
Recognising the importance of the Fiji International to growing golf in his home country, Singh is delighted to once again be pledging his support to the tournament.
“I am pleased to be returning home to play in the Fiji International which is building the profile of the sport that I love in the country that I love,” said Singh who finished in the top-10 last year.
“I enjoyed my time competing in the inaugural tournament, and this year I am motivated to try and win.”
Singh competing in the Fiji International is a significant result for the tournament and has been an important focus of the PGA of Australia.
“Vijay is an incredibly talented player but more than that he is a hero to people in Fiji, he inspires and interests them in golf which is why it was so important for us to secure him for the Fiji International again in 2015,” said Stephen Ayles, Chief Commercial Officer of the PGA of Australia.
“We would like to create a lasting legacy of golf in Fiji and by having Vijay participate we are on the path to achieving both of these goals.”
Prime Minister, Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama said the government was delighted to see Fijian Vijay Singh return for this year’s tournament with supporters expected to come out in force to cheer on their local hero.
“Every Fijian will be excited to hear that Vijay will return for the second Fiji International. He is a great ambassador for Fiji and a great ambassador for Fijian sport,” said Prime Minister Bainimarama.
The PGA of Australia is committed to growing the Fiji International in 2015 and the strength of playing field is a key component to this.
With the positioning of the tournament the week after The Presidents Cup in Korea the Fiji International has already attract world number 15 Matt Kuchar to compete after representing the United States of America.
“We want to continue to improve the playing field, this has a big impact on just about every metric you can measure the event by, it will improve the broadcast both domestically and in key markets like New Zealand and Australia, but also into Asia,” added Ayles.
“The tournament is the week after the Presidents Cup which is being hosted in Korea; Fiji is the perfect half-way point between Asia and the USA making the Fiji International a great follow-up tournament, we have already seen this with Matt Kuchar from the USA signing on to play.”
“In addition to the quality field, the tournament is continuing to grow as we have confirmed an increase in player field size to 132, and the prize purse to be played for will be A$1.125m.”
To be played at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 15-18 October, the Fiji International will be broadcast around the world.
The inaugural Fiji International signalled Fiji’s official arrival onto the world golfing stage with the Fijian Government, Fiji Tourism and Fiji’s number one golf ambassador, Vijay Singh, all making a push to put their country on the lucrative world golfing map.
In 2015 the Fiji International is expected to grow with the tournament establishing a reputation amongst the world’s best golfers as a must attend event for themselves and their families.
The tournament also boosts some of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 4th hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf whilst socialising on the beach.
More than just a golf tournament the Fiji International aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to introduce and grow the game in Fiji.