22 Aug 2017

Sport: Best yet to come at Fiji International - Vijay Singh

11:25 am on 22 August 2017

Fijian golfer Vijay Singh says the best is yet to come for the Natadola Bay Course and the Fiji International.

Australian Jason Norris finished on 14 under par at the weekend to clinch the biggest win of his career.

Local hero Singh was troubled by an elbow injury and finished 13 shots off the pace in a share of 41st place.

The 54 year old helped to redesign 15 of the 18 holes ahead of this year's tournament but says the course will be even better next year.

The new 14th green at the Natadola Bay Golf Course, moved from up on the hill to the left.

The new 14th green at the Natadola Bay Golf Course, moved from up on the hill to the left. Photo: Fiji International

"Way better I think - we've changed something like 11 greens, 12 greens so every green had different speed, had different issues on it," he said.

"Probably next year we're going to have all the greens, all the surroundings of the greens rough cut back and where we needed more rough it's going to grow back so it's going to be the same golf course but way better conditions".

Vijay Singh was the best placed local after the opening round.

Vijay Singh. Photo: PGA of Australia

This year's tournament was moved forward to August after two years playing in October.

Singh managed to attract fellow major winners Angel Cabrera from Argentina and Mike Weir from Canada to the South Pacific and remained hopeful more big names will make the trip in future.

"I hope they come - this is the biggest prize purse on this side of the world so hopefully in future it's going to get bigger and if the dates are a little better we should be able to get a lot more better players coming here," said the Fijian.

"October would be a better date because the season finishes in the (United) States so we can get bigger names over here but that's really is up to the organisers and we'll have to come up with some good dates".

Vijay Singh said he had received encouraging feedback about the course re-design from other competitors over the past week and said some holes would prove more challenging with a bit of wind, following a surprisingly calm final two rounds.

The eighth hole at Natadola Bay is among 15 that have redesigned.

The eighth hole at Natadola Bay is among 15 that have been redesigned. Photo: PGA of Australia