Fiji golfer Sam Lee is still waiting for borders to reopen 12 months after his professional career was put on hold because of Covid-19.
Fiji golfer Sam Lee Photo: PGA of Australia
The 30 year old turned pro six years ago and was playing on the Asian Development Tour when the pandemic brought the global sporting calendar to a stop.
"My last event on the Asian Development Tour was January 2020 and then I played the Asian Qualifying School in February," he recalled.
"Then I was actually going to play a couple of events in New Zealand in March and then the borders closed."
Back in Nadi while he waits for the world to open up again, the adjustment from touring professional to entering local pro-am tournaments is something Lee is still getting used to.
"Back in 2019 the Asian Development Tour had probably 15 events or so, so I was on the road probably at least 15 weeks.
"I played a few events on the Asian Tour as well and Australasian Tour so probably half the year I was on the road at least."
Fijian golfer Sam Lee. Photo: PGA of Australia
The PGA Tour of Australasia resumed competition in January but, even if he jumped on a plane, Lee's world ranking (1203) means he would not be guaranteed to qualify for every event.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to get a start in all the events and so I didn't really want to risk going there for two weeks quarantine and not being able to play all the events, so I decided to stay home.
"On the Asian Development Tour...their borders are closed and they're not sure exactly when they'll open up."
With the borders closed, Lee has been a regular sight at the Denarau and Natadola Bay golf courses which remain largely empty in the absence of international tourists.
"It was a good time for me to sit down and analyse where I could improve and what my weaknesses and strengths are.
"With the time off I could do more stuff on my game than when I'm travelling. Yeah, I've just had a lot more time working on my game."
Lee won a third consecutive Fiji Open title in November and said, despite being the only professional in the field it wasn't all plain sailing.
"My last one since the borders were closed it was just all locals but the first two years we've had a lot of guys from New Zealand and Australia come and play," he said.
"Other than the Fiji Open we have a lot of one day pro-ams and stuff. Those ones have been quite tough actually - the guys here have gotten a lot better and one day events anything can happen and anyone could play well."
Lee was part of a golfing boom in Fiji inspired by Vijay Singh's success in winning three grand slam titles and reaching the number one ranking in 2004.
The standard of local players is on the up again, he said. Now they just need the borders to reopen.
