WINNING the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways at the Natadola Bay Championship Course last year was a life changer for Jason Norris.
It was the biggest win in his golfing career, one which also earned a two-year card on the Asian Tour.
Norris, who has defended some secondary tour events, said it was a thrill to be back in Fiji.
“I have defended secondary tour events and it is great fun, but this is the next level,” he said.
“There is a great field here. Ernie’s (Els) has come over and obviously Vijay’s (Singh) back again.
They are two world-class players we have all grown up with.
“It’s a thrill to be playing with them and it’s good to see Australian golf and Fiji golf with such good players. You have good vibes going through your body, you have good feelings and it is always good to come back to where you have played well.
“I’m really looking forward to getting out there and just doing it again.”
Norris is back on the golfing circuit after battling with injury for nearly a year.
“I had a few sprained facet joints,” he said.
“It’s not good for golf, the rotation and everything, so the more I played the worst it got and it’s really hard to keep on top of it.
“It’s started coming good in the last three weeks to a month, which is good for obviously this week and the remainder of the year, but I struggled pretty much early on in the year.
“I had only one good event in Asia. Other than that, it’s been a bit of a struggle with the travel and a lot of golf. Just been working hard in the gym and trying to get it rolling.
“My goal is to finish off my career in Asia, so I’m looking forward to getting there maybe next year or maybe the year after, depending how I go in Europe.
“So I’m really looking forward to getting out there and they have some great events in nice places.
“Someone said the course is in better condition than last year, which is amazing. The new greens have settled in and in fantastic condition I have heard.
“But it’s one of my favourite golf courses. Sometimes the wind can be completely different when you play, so as far as looking at the course with a certain wind, it doesn’t really matter.
“If you ae playing well, the wind doesn’t affect you. It’s when you’re off then the wind really affects you.
“Last year I obviously played pretty good and the wind didn’t bother me for a couple of rounds, but the weekend was really good last year.
“I think it’s a course where you always get wind and you have to play good shots in the wind.”
