Former Masters champion Angel Cabrera is visiting Fiji for the first time to contest the 2017 Fiji International at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from tomorrow.
The Argentinean affectionately dubbed by golf fans as ‘El Pato’ or, ‘The Duck’, said he is excited to be playing the fourth edition of the Fiji International that has grown from strength-to-strength each year.
“I’m very very happy to be here, this my first time here and it’s a completely new experience and I’m hoping for a great week,” Cabrera said.
Arriving on Sunday, Cabrera got his first look at the course re-designed by fellow Masters champion and local Fijian hero Vijay Singh and was impressed by what he saw so far.
“I was on the course yesterday and I played nine holes. I was playing this morning when the rain caught us on the course so we played a few holes and we’ll see if we can go back out there today. Certainly a very interesting course and it’s a place where the wind can be a very big factor here.”
The two-time Major winner is no stranger to playing in the breeze so is comfortable with the gusty conditions the Natadola Bay layout can present.
“I’ve actually played a lot in Europe and in Argentina it’s also windy, so I like playing in the wind … I don’t think it’s going to be a problem if it blows,” Cabrera added.
Cabrera completes a trio of former Masters champions in the field this week alongside Singh and Canadian Mike Weir along with Asian Tour, European Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia stars thanks to the tri-sanctioning of this year’s tournament.
He said the strength of the field was a factor in agreeing to play the Fiji International as he looks to re-capture some form in his own game.
“Well I thought it was interesting from the very beginning, Cabrera said. “There are very good players here coming to the tournament that was also important to me, I’m always looking for new challenges so it’s certainly something I will remember. I’m not in my best form that’s for sure but I’m always optimistic and I’m always thinking positive that this is going to be a great week”
Having made a name for himself on the European Tour, Cabrera said the tri-sanctioning of the Fiji International presents a huge opportunity for some of the younger players in the field who get the chance to trod the same path the former Masters and US Open champion did in the burgeoning stages of his career.
“Certainly it is great that this is a European Tour event, it’s very nice to be here on this side of the world for the first time. It being a part of the European Tour it is very good, because I started on the European Tour in my career,” Cabrera said. “The European Tour was the one that got me playing in Majors so I think it is very important for the up and coming golfers in events like to boost their careers.”
