Australian Brendan Jones is the latest player to confirm his place at the inaugural Fiji International to be played from 14-17 August.
With 13 titles to his name Jones is one of the most prolific winners on the Japan Tour and is set to compete in Fiji for the first time.
“It’s a beautiful destination, I have heard amazing things about the golf course, plus you are playing a big golf tournament with some great players. There is a lot to be excited about,” said Jones who first visited Fiji as a child.
“I have been to Fiji with my family as an 11 year old. I remember getting my first set of brand new golf clubs in Fiji, so I do have memories but obviously it has changed a lot in almost 30 years.”
Known for his pure ball striking, Jones is excited to play the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course after hearing rave reviews from fellow Australian Tour Professionals.
“Brad Kennedy (a fellow Japan Tour winner) has spoken to me about the course and mentioned that it is fantastic. He said it is one of the best he has ever played but hard as well.”
“If the wind gets up then shooting around par is going to put you near the top of the leaderboard.”
“I am always quite confident in my ability to play in the wind. The windier the better it will be for me,” added Jones who finished runner-up at the 2012 Australian Open when gale force winds suspended play.
The Fiji International is set to close the door on what has been a frustrating year to date for Jones who has been sidelined with injury.
“I am excited first and foremost to be fit and secondly to be back playing.”
“I haven’t been excited about golf for a few years but when it is taken away from you through injury you realise what it means to you. I know that I have missed it terribly.”
“With Major Champions Vijay Singh and Nick Price in the field and playing for a big prizepurse this is going to be an exciting tournament, I’m looking forward to it.”
Moving past his injury, Jones has shown glimpses of form in his return to the Japan Golf Tour and will be a favourite to take out the inaugural Fiji International.
“I haven’t lost anything in my ball striking being out of the game for nine months, I am very confident with my ability to hit the shots that I want to hit,” added Jones.
“When Fiji comes around I will be very confident, I don’t know if winning is a legitimate thing for me but I know when I get the juices flowing I do back myself in those situations.”
Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia is thrilled that Jones will tee it up in August.
“Brendan has been a fantastic ambassador for Australian golf around the world but in particular Japan,” said Thorburn.
“The quality of Brendan’s golf is phenomenal and he will be a real treat for spectators to watch at the Fiji International.”
The Fiji International will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 14-17 August and will be Fiji’s first internationally broadcast golf tournament.
Being played for a US$1 million prize purse the Fiji International will be co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia.
Proudly supported by the Fijian Government, the Fiji International is expected to produce a multi-million dollar boost for the Fijian economy, in addition to flow on benefits including the growth of the game in the region.
Designed by Singh, the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course is renowned for its sparkling backdrop of coral reefs and the Pacific Ocean that line 15 out of the 18 championship holes.