Three of the top seven Chinese golfers in the world have booked their tickets to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.
Teeing off at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course next week Wu Ashun, Xiao Bowen and Liu Yanwei will all be contesting the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and European Tour tri-sanctioned tournament.
Ashun, the second highest ranked Chinese player in the Official World Golf Rankings, will make his second appearance in Fiji after he teed it up in the inaugural Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.
While he missed the cut in 2014, he returns with great excitement to play the Natadola Bay layout which will look vastly different thanks to the Vijay Singh re-design completed last year.
“I have great memories of Fiji, it is a very beautiful country and the course location, on the seaside, offered great views to enjoy while playing golf,” said Ashun.
“I remember it was very windy and a challenging course, but I have heard the changes made by Vijay Singh are very good and I look forward to playing the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course again.”
Joining Ashun, is his countryman, Xiao Bowen who broke through for his first career victory last year at the Asian Tour’s KG S&H City Asian Golf Championship.
While this year has been more of a challenge for the 28-year-old, who played outside of China for the first time just last year, he is hoping to recapture his winning form in Fiji.
“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to play golf in Fiji. It looks very different to China and I look forward to experiencing another country,” said Bowen.
“However I do have work to do in Fiji, a good result at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways, would be a big boost to my results this season.”
The final tournament invite to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways was given to 21-year-old Liu Yanwei.
“I am honoured to receive the final invite into the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways and am very much looking forward to playing my best golf at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course,” said Yanwei.
One of the largest golfing nations in the world, China is also a key tourism market for Fiji and the Fijian Government look forward to welcoming some the leading Chinese players to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.
“China is a key tourism market for Fiji and as we look forward to continuing Fiji’s expansion into the golf tourism industry it makes sense for us to welcome these fine Chinese golfers to the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways,” said The Honourable Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources.
“Broadcasted around the world, the tournament provides significant exposure for Fiji as a golf destination and we hope that Chinese golf fans will be tuning in to support their countrymen as they look to become the 2018 Champion.”
The addition of the Chinese contingent bolsters the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways field which will be headlined by Major Champion and Presidents Cup International Team Captain Ernie Els as well as local hero and fellow Major Champion Vijay Singh.
“The Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways is truly an international tournament both in the number of countries it is broadcast to and the nations represented by the players in the field,” said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
“We look forward to welcoming Wu Ashun back to Fiji and showcasing the beautiful country to Xiao Bowen and Liu Yanwei for the first time. We are confident, that like all players who have attended the tournament, they will return home thoroughly impressed by Fiji making them excellent ambassadors for golf in the country.”