Singh determined to win Fiji International

Vijay Singh has narrowed his focus at the Fiji International this week as he is determined to win a title on home soil.

Arriving at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course, Singh had the course, which he designed, virtually to himself as he prepared for his nation’s biggest global event.

“This year I want to play and I want to win, so I am more focused on playing my game,” said Singh who has been practicing since Saturday.

“I have been looking at the golf course, playing a couple of practice rounds and being blown away quite a bit.”

“It’s an incredible place, the setting is unbelievable but the wind is playing havoc right now. But it’s that way for everybody and you have to get used to it.”

Singh’s hard work doesn’t just stay on the golf course, just moments before fronting media; he had been slogging it out at the gym, a regular part of his daily routine.

“It used to be that golf was not a fitness game but it is and the more fitter you are, you can see the physique of the players coming up is a lot more athletic,” added Singh who has been competing at the game’s highest level for more than 30 years.

“For me if I don’t go to the gym, as old as I am, I feel really stiff, I have to keep going. It’s become a habit, if I don’t do it, I feel like something is missing in my day.”

Kids in Fiji seeing golf as a physical sport, Singh believes, could also hold the key to more Fijians becoming involved in the game.

“It’s good to have junior programs but I think we need a lot more of that. You need a lot more golf courses as well, there has to be involvement for the young kids to go out and play,” added Singh.

“They (children) have to learn that this is an athletic sport as well, not just hitting the ball, walking, finding it and hitting it again. It requires a lot more than just hitting the golf ball.”

“Having a junior clinic is great, but I was at the Nadi Golf Course where I grew up and it’s not even a golf course anymore. So you need to kind of build those things up, and build more golf courses to give kids the opportunity to go out and play.”

An increase in Fijians in the Fiji International field is also another step in the right direction according to Singh.

“I think there are five or six. I think there were only three of four last year,” said Singh of the seven man Fijian contingent at the tournament.

“I would like to see about 10 of them playing, even if they are not able to play really good at least they are in the field.”

“That’s going to give a chance to other players to try a little bit harder and get into the tournament.”