Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia (Oct 14-17, 2009)
From mercedes-benztour.com:
Rory Raring to go in Indonesia
October 13, Jakarta: Indonesia’s Rory Hie could be the man to beat at this week’s Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia as Emeralda Golf and Country Club, which is host the venue for the second successive season.
The 21 year old, in his second year as a professional, knows the courses there like the back of his hand as he has been regularly practicing at the club.
Hie will also be buoyed by the fact he won The International Championship last year on home soil to become the first Indonesian to win on the Mercedes-Benz Tour. It was also his first victory as a professional.
The US$60,000 tournament tees-off on Wednesday and is the penultimate tournament on this year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour.
“I know Emeralda really well. I have played there a lot and it is practically my home course in Jakarta. I have shot eight under around there before but not during a tournament. The set up will be different for a tournament but I definitely have an advantage playing there,” said Hie.
The young golfer has not made the impact that was expected of him this year. He turned professional in August of last year and enjoyed a good debut season highlighted by his victory on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.
He has played on the Asian Tour and Challenge Tour in Europe this year but has been dogged by injuries.
“I am playing better now but I got out of my rhythm this season. I had an injury on my right leg and also got an irritation in my eye. I will go for Lazik eye surgery later this year. My eye problem actually started when I was changing my contact lenses on a flight in Europe. I had to go to a hospital in Italy for treatment,” said Hie.
The leg injury has virtually heeled so it appears Hie is better placed to start playing well again.
He attended the University of Southern California and was at one point ranked the sixth best amateur in the world. The talented golfer attended college for two years and then opted to leave prematurely as he felt he was ready for the professional game.
Plenty of other players will also fancy their chances including compatriot Andik Mauludin, who finished second to Hie in The International Championship last year when still an amateur. He turned professional soon after.
Other top contenders aiming to give Hie a run for the title this week include multiple Mercedes-Benz Tour winner Malaysian Danny Chia, who finished third at Emeralda last year, 2008 Player of the Year Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand and his compatriot Thammanoon Srirot, an Asian Tour winner, Singapore’s Quincy Quek and Felix Casas from the Philippines.