Golf: Asia is ‘all they talk about in US’—Vijay Singh

KUALA LUMPUR—Asian golf is booming and is “all they talk about” in the sport’s US circles, former world No. 1 Vijay Singh said on Wednesday, calling for more multimillion-dollar tournaments in the region.

The Florida-based Singh, 48, fondly known as “The Big Fijian” because of his towering frame, says the game’s rapid growth in Asia has been a hot topic of discussion in his adopted homeland.

“That’s all they talk about: the next big thing is Asia,” the three-time Major winner said on the eve of the $6.1-million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia.

“It’s been going on for a couple of years now. India, China and Malaysia now. Coming over here, you can see the development,” he said at The Mines Resort & Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur.

“There are so many courses and so many tournaments now (in Asia). When we played here (a few years ago), we were trying to look for tournaments to play in. Nowadays, we can pick and choose what we want to play.

“That’s the big change. Golf in Asia is so much bigger now. You have courses wherever you go. The opportunities are there for the game to grow further.”

The CIMB Classic, co-sanctioned between the PGA Tour and the Asian Tour, was proof that there is plenty of money now in the game in fast-developing Asia, said Singh, who is aiming to get back to his best after two years of injury.

“They need more events like this. There are big businesses that support big events like this,” he added.

“We need million-dollar-plus tournaments to make children want to take up golf and make a living out of it. If you get that, you’ll get the players.”

Singh was more circumspect on the idea of a mooted “fifth Major” to be held in Asia.

“It’s a strange one as you can call any event a Major but there are only four Majors,” he said.

“You can have a major for the Asians in this part of the world and it’ll be a good thing, but I don’t think it’ll be a Major. It’ll be a huge event.”