Home favourite Vijay Singh insists he is fully focused on victory at the Fiji International as his vision for Natadola Bay Golf Club edges closer to becoming a complete reality.
The Fijian star has featured in all three editions of his home event, and he also designed the Championship Course, which opened in 2009 and was redesigned this year.
He has been heavily involved in the changes made at the stunning venue on the Pacific island ahead of this year’s event – tri-sanctioned for the first time by the European Tour, the Asian Tour and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
Singh is one of three Masters Tournament winners playing this week with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and Mike Weir of Canada also teeing it up.
For New Zealander Ryan Fox it’s a return to a happy hunting ground as he looks to continue his excellent rookie season on the European Tour.
He finished fourth on last season’s Road to Oman to secure his playing privileges and has not looked back since, moving to 21st in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex with the help of three top tens in Rolex Series events.
He also has two top tens here at the notoriously windy Natadola Bay Golf Club and while the layout has changed somewhat since his last visit in 2015, the 30 year old arrives in confident mood.
The field also includes two-time European Tour winner and reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion Scott Hend, and his fellow Australian Brett Rumford, who sealed his sixth European Tour title at the 2017 ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.
Three-time European Tour winner Jeunghun Wang of Korea will also tee it up at Natadola Bay, alongside 18 year old Thai Phachara Khongwatmai, who finished in second place behind Rumford in Perth earlier this year.
Player quotes
“I hope I can just focus on the game but there are a couple more holes to go, we only did about 80 per cent of the work, I’m always looking for things to improve,” said Singh. “I’m coming off from playing some good golf in the States so hopefully I can focus and do well this year. I think they’re all waiting for me to play some good golf here, I’ve come close to playing good golf here. It would be great to win, especially after the redesign, I’m really happy with the work we’ve done and I just want to go out and play it the way I know how and take my mind away from so many distractions that go on here at home. I think I can do that, just focus a little bit harder.
