Indah Setiawati , The Jakarta Post , Bali Tue, 03/03/2009 1:51 PM Sports
In a bid to reach the playing level of world No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods, Indonesian Rory Hidayat Hie exercised his patience, endurance and mettle at the US$1.25 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open 2009 golf tournament in Pecatu, Bali.
The 20-year-old said his idol, Woods, never backed down when he made mistakes, and stayed focused and always tried to retrieve the momentum by firing more points.
"I have to improve my mental shape, to be more positive. If I make mistakes, I have to be able to come back and quickly fix them," the Indonesian No. 1 golfer said Saturday.
Rory is on the right track, indeed.
Despite a difficult and windy course, he managed to card a respectable 2-under 266 after another even par on Sunday. He was the only one of 13 Indonesians to make the cut.
Last year, three professional local golfers and an amateur stormed to the cut at the Cengkareng Golf Club just outside Jakarta. But this year, the challenge at the New Kuta Golf and Ocean View sent home 75 professional and amateur golfers to see the remaining 69 players vying for the $208,330 top prize.
Rory birdied on the second and sixth holes only to have a bogey on the fifth hole for a 1-under on the front nine. Going back to the clubhouse, two other bogeys at the 13th and 15th holes seemed to cost Rory, but were neutralized by another birdie at the 16th.
The only Indonesian golfer in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour, Rory shot a 2-under on the first day and made even par in the other rounds.
He fell short of a place in the top 20, but he still pocketed $8,909 after finishing in joint 32nd spot.
Rory, who turns 21 in September, said the ability to up the challenge during his American tour had given him confidence about becoming a professional golf player.
"I felt sure I would be good as a pro," said the soft-spoken young man who was named the 2008 California player of the year.
He owes the achievement partly to his family, especially father Tommy Hidayat.
Tommy, 55, introduced Rory to golf when he was 4. Rory said he was handed a plastic golf stick to practice with on the driving range.
"It looked like he preferred soccer *over golf* at that time. But when he was 10, he showed his talent in golf and played it more seriously," said Tommy, who often caddies for his son on tournaments, including at the Bali event.
Tommy gave Rory tips on reading the wind and advice on the shots, but never insisted on what should be done during the tournament.
"It's really up to him whether to take my advice or not. After all, he is the one playing," Tommy said.
With only a few tournaments at home, Tommy decided to bring Rory to California 10 years ago, along with the whole family.
"You can learn from other players better play at tournaments," Tommy said.
The decision to move was worth it, as Rory, who turned professional last year, won several titles, including the 2008 Southern Highlands Intercollegiate, the 2008 US Stanford Intercollegiate and the 2007 USC Invitational tournament.
He also won the Mercedes-Benz Tour, part of the Asian Tour, on his pro-debut at the Imperial Golf Club in Karawaci, Tangerang, in 2008.
Shortly after that event, he advanced to the final stages of the European Qualifying School, a great achievement never before equalled by any Indonesian golfer.
Rory said he practiced his strokes every single day and always tried to look for things he could improve on to perform better.
"It's the way professional golfers do it, and I have decided to become one," he said.
In a bid to reach the playing level of world No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods, Indonesian Rory Hidayat Hie exercised his patience, endurance and mettle at the US$1.25 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open 2009 golf tournament in Pecatu, Bali.
The 20-year-old said his idol, Woods, never backed down when he made mistakes, and stayed focused and always tried to retrieve the momentum by firing more points.
"I have to improve my mental shape, to be more positive. If I make mistakes, I have to be able to come back and quickly fix them," the Indonesian No. 1 golfer said Saturday.
Rory is on the right track, indeed.
Despite a difficult and windy course, he managed to card a respectable 2-under 266 after another even par on Sunday. He was the only one of 13 Indonesians to make the cut.
Last year, three professional local golfers and an amateur stormed to the cut at the Cengkareng Golf Club just outside Jakarta. But this year, the challenge at the New Kuta Golf and Ocean View sent home 75 professional and amateur golfers to see the remaining 69 players vying for the $208,330 top prize.
Rory birdied on the second and sixth holes only to have a bogey on the fifth hole for a 1-under on the front nine. Going back to the clubhouse, two other bogeys at the 13th and 15th holes seemed to cost Rory, but were neutralized by another birdie at the 16th.
The only Indonesian golfer in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour, Rory shot a 2-under on the first day and made even par in the other rounds.
He fell short of a place in the top 20, but he still pocketed $8,909 after finishing in joint 32nd spot.
Rory, who turns 21 in September, said the ability to up the challenge during his American tour had given him confidence about becoming a professional golf player.
"I felt sure I would be good as a pro," said the soft-spoken young man who was named the 2008 California player of the year.
He owes the achievement partly to his family, especially father Tommy Hidayat.
Tommy, 55, introduced Rory to golf when he was 4. Rory said he was handed a plastic golf stick to practice with on the driving range.
"It looked like he preferred soccer *over golf* at that time. But when he was 10, he showed his talent in golf and played it more seriously," said Tommy, who often caddies for his son on tournaments, including at the Bali event.
Tommy gave Rory tips on reading the wind and advice on the shots, but never insisted on what should be done during the tournament.
"It's really up to him whether to take my advice or not. After all, he is the one playing," Tommy said.
With only a few tournaments at home, Tommy decided to bring Rory to California 10 years ago, along with the whole family.
"You can learn from other players better play at tournaments," Tommy said.
The decision to move was worth it, as Rory, who turned professional last year, won several titles, including the 2008 Southern Highlands Intercollegiate, the 2008 US Stanford Intercollegiate and the 2007 USC Invitational tournament.
He also won the Mercedes-Benz Tour, part of the Asian Tour, on his pro-debut at the Imperial Golf Club in Karawaci, Tangerang, in 2008.
Shortly after that event, he advanced to the final stages of the European Qualifying School, a great achievement never before equalled by any Indonesian golfer.
Rory said he practiced his strokes every single day and always tried to look for things he could improve on to perform better.
"It's the way professional golfers do it, and I have decided to become one," he said.
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