THE highly anticipated Fiji International golf tournament gets underway this week headlined by globally renowned Fijian golfer and three time major winner Vijay Singh.
And along with Singh are fellow former World Number 1, four-time Major winner and Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els. They will be joined by Scott Hend, Andrew Dodt and Lucas Herbert who will all fly in from the European Tour’s Porsche European Open.
Gold level sponsor InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa together with the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course is highly anticipating the 5th Fiji International tournament which begins this week from August 2-5.
Tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and European Tour, the event has attracted top golf stars with its increasing standing year on year and a purse prize of FJD2.3 million.
With only a day to go, all sponsors have been working tirelessly to make the fifth staging of this world-class tournament one to remember.
A statement from the event host stated that all details for accommodation, event and operations support have been finalized, and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is looking forward to the successful execution of the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.
“As one of the most established and premium sporting events in the South Pacific, and a key event that highlights Fiji on the world stage, the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways has grown from strength to strength over the last five years,” says Andrew Davidson, Area General Manager South Pacific at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa.
“We anticipate making the fifth tournament an exceptional experience both for the players and spectators alike, and are ready to showcase what Fiji has to offer to the world in terms of luxury golf, travel and exotic destination experiences,”
Also confirmed to tee off are the major golf players from all around the globe such as South Africa’s Ernie Els, Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Shiv Kapur.
This also includes China’s best golfers – Wu Anshu, Xiao Bowen and Liu Yanwei and a strong field of players including Lucas Herbert, Olympians Marcus Fraser and Scott Hend; along with 2017’s champion Jason Norris.
“With golf being part of Fiji’s niche tourism industry and this event in particular being broadcast to millions of viewers globally, it is anticipated that we should see an increase in golf tourism following this event,” Davidson said.
“There are some players that will be returning and have not as yet tried the renovated golf course; which will be a treat for them as it has been improved significantly under the careful attention of Vijay himself.”
Home to the famous Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course, one of the world’s best beaches, and the luxurious InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Natadola Bay is quickly becoming one of the top – and most exotic – golfing destinations in the world.
Key facts:
Dates: 2-5 August
Venue: Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course
Prize money: AU $1.25million
Course Record: 8-under 64 set in round 4 of 2017’s tournament by Jazz Janewattananond
2017 Champion: Jason Norris
Marquee players in the field:
- Vijay Singh – Three-time Major winner
- Scott Hend – Nine-time Asian Tour winner and two time European Tour winner
- Gavin Green – 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion
- Gaganjeet Bhullar – Eight-time Asian Tour winner
- Wu Ashun – Two-time Japan Tour winner and two-time European Tour winner, second highest ranked Chinese golfer
- Full field is available at pga.org.au
