Sāmoa’s next golf stars need backing to reach the world stage - expert

A nine-year-old Sāmoan golfer taking on professionals and top amateurs at a major tournament has given high-performance expert Etu Tusitala a glimpse of what the country’s next generation could achieve.

The young golfer competed for three days at the Sāmoa Open, a professional and amateur event that carries world ranking points, and an experience Tusitala says shows the talent is already there.

“It's amazing, brother,” Tusitala told Tuilagi William Leolahi on Pacific Huddle.

“For me, seeing one of our juniors playing in it, nine years old, over three days of a competition that is professional and top amateur.”

The former Fiji sevens high-performance coach and 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens champion now works with Sāmoa’s Junior Golf High Performance Unit, helping young players prepare for international competition.

The group is preparing to represent Sāmoa in Tahiti but Tusitala says talent alone will not be enough.

Sāmoa’s junior golfers are being prepared for international competition as the sport continues to grow among young players. Photo/Facebook/Asiata Van Wright

“It is absolutely a thing that now we see the talent and we just need the facilitating. “We just need that, what we call the product, to make the product. And that is equipment and just people with such a high level.”

That call for early investment is backed by Sāmoa Golf Incorporated president Leiataua Isikuki Punivalu after a strong showing by local players at last month's Sāmoa Open.

“This is what happens when you invest in young people early, and in a sport that builds discipline, camaraderie and skill,” Leiataua said in a media release.

Sāmoa Golf says early investment in young players is key to growing the sport in the country. Photo/Facebook/Asiata Van Wright

The 2026 Sāmoa Open attracted 83 players, up from 57 last year while the amateur field grew by 70 per cent to 68 players. An amateur also won the tournament for the second year in a row.

For Tusitala, developing young golfers starts long before they reach international competition.

He says the lessons he learned working in elite rugby can be applied to golf particularly when it comes to discipline, preparation, and handling pressure.

“Talent is only the starting point. You can have all the talent in the world but without discipline, consistency and the right mindset, you won't reach your full potential.”

Tusitala says young athletes need to learn how to work hard, deal with mistakes, and stay focused when nobody is watching.

“Talent, you notice a mindset and discipline make you a champion.”

Etu Tusitala was part of Fiji’s successful sevens era, helping the team win the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens title. Photo/Fiji Rugby

He sees the same demands in golf as he did in rugby, even though one is an individual sport and the other is built around a team.

“Both require discipline, physical preparation, technical skills, focus, and mental strength. And the biggest thing is learning how to perform under pressure.”

That approach is now being introduced to Sāmoa’s young golfers, including conditioning work from an early age.

Tusitala says the aim is to make training enjoyable while teaching players the habits they will need as they move towards elite sport.

The push to get the young golfers to Tahiti is also about giving them experience beyond Sāmoa.

Tusitala is calling on the Sāmoan community in New Zealand to support the fundraising effort.

Watch Sāmoa's elite junior golfer Jonah Faalogo's interview below.

“When we invest in our young athletes, we are investing in the future of Sāmoa.”

He says international competition can give young players confidence and help them see what is possible.

The former rugby champion is now also competing as a senior golfer himself, giving him another perspective on the demands of high-level sport.

And he believes Sāmoa’s young golfers can go a long way if they are given the right support.

“I think he will come and beat you guys in New Zealand, probably at the age of nine or 10.”

For Tusitala, that confidence is not just talk. He says the next step is making sure Sāmoa’s young talent has the people, equipment, and opportunities needed to turn potential into performance.