A new US$1 million tournament has been added to the PGA Tour of Australasia. The Fiji International will join the schedule in 2014 and will be played at the spectacular Natadola Bay course.

Confirmed for a five-year period, the tournament will be managed by the PGA in conjunction with tournament promoter Sports & Entertainment Limited (SEL), and will be co-sanctioned by OneAsia, of which the PGA is a founding partner.

In making the announcement alongside Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Brian Thorburn CEO of the PGA of Australia said the Fiji International presents an opportunity for Fiji to claim a position as one of the world’s greatest golf destinations.

Natadola Bay's par-4 10th opens a very challenging back that will certainly test the field at the Fiji International.

“This is a significant day for Fiji, the PGA of Australia and OneAsia,” said Thorburn.

“The Fiji International will perfectly complement Fiji’s tourism strategy at the same time delivering both short and long term economic benefits.”

“With a broadcast reach to over 400 million people across 40 countries, the Fiji International will rightfully showcase Fiji as a world class golf and tourist destination and we’re proud to be involved with this promising project.”

With initial estimates suggesting the Fiji International could deliver a multi-million dollar economic benefit, Prime Minister Bainimarama said the initiative has been embraced by the Fiji Government.

“This is a significant moment for Fiji because it demonstrates that the PGA has faith in our country to hold one of its major events,” he said. “Faith in our infrastructure. Faith in our economy. And faith in our people. I am here to say that we are equal to the opportunity and look forward to a strong and lasting relationship with the PGA.”

The Prime Minister also said that the Fiji International will showcase Fiji to the world.

“With a potential broadcast reach to more than 400 million people across 40 countries, it will feature Fiji as a top golf and tourist destination in millions of homes around the globe,” he said.

“It will give us a fantastic avenue to promote our beautiful nation and show the world what we have to offer.”

Planning is now underway to stage the inaugural Fiji International in August 2014, however the tournament will likely move to a later position from 2015 to more closely align with the PGA Tour of Australasia’s existing major events including the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the Emirates Australian Open, Perth International and the Talisker Masters.

“Our vision is to see the Fiji International grow to be one of the most sought after trophies within the region bringing some of the world’s best players to Natadola Bay,” Thorburn said.

The Fiji International is the third new PGA Tour of Australasia tournament launched in as many years on the growing regional schedule.

With the addition of the Fiji International, the PGA Tour of Australasia now spans across Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji, whilst OneAsia’s events are played in some of the world’s fastest growing golfing nations including China, Thailand and Korea.

"We're very excited to have the Fiji International become part of the OneAsia schedule and I am certain that the tournament will very quickly become one of the most popular destinations on tour," said OneAsia Commissioner and Chairman Sang Y. Chun.

Located on Fiji’s Coral Coast, Natadola Bay is approximately 40 minutes drive south of Nadi International Airport on the main island of Viti Levu. The layout was officially opened for play in June 2009 with the staging of the Fijian Open, won by then rookie pro Victorian Matthew Griffin.