Transcript
Vijay Singh has finished in the top ten in the previous two editions of the Fiji International but is still seeking his maiden pro victory on home soil. The Lautoka-born 53 year old says he's striking the ball well, even if recent scores don't show it, and hopefully this can be his year.
"It would be nice to win here. I am looking forward to it, I am going to do my best to you know see if I can pull it off. You know put a lot more attention to it, a little less on the design side. It used to be I come over here and I see what I can fix you know. This needs, shouldn't have been there and that was done wrongly. But this year I am more focused into just playing the tournament and you know we will see if I can pull it off."
Another local hope is Sam Lee, who finished 26th at the Natadola Bay Championship Course last year. The 26 year old made his professional debut last year but, after missing out at qualifying school, has spent much of 2016 at home reshaping his game.
"It has been a while since I have played in a tour event or a full tournament. So I have had some ups and downs and there's a few things to work on especially short game. I guess there is some pressure on me to play well on a home course but I have been playing this course for the last two years. Two and half so it feels really good, really comfortable. The conditions are a little different this year a lot calmer. So I am expecting you know a lot of the other players will play well as well."
Brandt Snedeker is the top-ranked player in the field at 23 in the world and arrives in Fiji fresh from helping the United States regain the Ryder Cup. This year's tournament is co-sanctioned with the European Tour and CEO of the PGA of Australia, Brian Thorburn, believes it's set to be the best yet.
"In terms of prize money we have gone from 1.2 million to 1.5 million an increase of about 30 percent. Due to our co-sanction of the european tour we have got a much bigger broadcast platform. We have got seven former PGA tour winners ranging from Vijay Singh, Brandt Snedeker, Boo Weekley, Heath Slocum, Robert Allenby, Peter Lonard and Steven Bowditch. That is a great field it is a much better field and the co-sanction with europe has made it a better tournament as well."
One of the added perks this year is the chance to win a genuine slice of Fiji. The first professional to land a hole in one on the par three 13th hole during Sunday's final round will become the new owner of a block of land adjacent to Natadola Bay beach. And that was music to the ears of American Boo Weekley, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
"Really? Now that would be cool. I could get used to living here (laughing), I could get used to living here - that is cool. I had to think about that. What is a block of land here, that would be awesome," Weekley chuckled. "I will be focusing on a hole in one (if still in contention for the title on Sunday). I'm going for a hole in one."
The tournament gets underway bright and early Thursday morning at the Natadola Bay Championship Course, with Vijay Singh's brother Krishna Singh among the first to tee off.
