R

ising Indonesian golf star Rory Hie is set to embark on his European trip with a debut in the Challenge Tour.

The first tournament on his competition list is the Piemonte Open in Turin, Italy.

The 150,000-euro tournament next month is expected to provide an initial testing field against the world's best of his peers.

The Challenge Tour features 27 tournaments, and ends in October, but Rory is looking to play in only three tournaments, with more of his playing time dedicated to the Asian Tour.

Rory, who was accompanied by his parents during a recent interview at the Ancora Golf Academy in Serpong, Banten, was still undecided on which other tournaments he would be aiming for.

"We'll see what tournaments Rory may be able to play," said his father, Tommy Hidayat, who also acts as Rory's caddie in some tournaments.

"For sure, he may compete in three tournaments. I don't think he can play in more, because it's difficult to arrange our visas."

Tommy, who will accompany his son in the tour, complained about the lengthy waiting period for getting visas.

"It would be helpful if an institution in Indonesia, perhaps the sports ministry, could produce a recommendation letter to ease the procedure," he said.

"I envy the players from Singapore. They seem to have no problems at all getting visas. All they have to do is prepare their game. They're not distracted by visa complications."

Rory also has to restrict his European participation because of his schedule in the Asian Tour.

Rory, who turned pro last October after standing out as one of the top 10 amateurs in the world, earned the right to play in the Challenge Tour after he finished in the top 70 at last year's Qualifying School in Jerez and Catalunya, Spain.

The 20-year-old has modest expectations about his Challenge debut, although he harbors hopes about winning a tournament in order to attain exemption for another two years.

"I can't say anything yet about this tour," he said.

"This is my first time. I'm just trying to play my best. If I can win just one tournament, that's great, because this will give me a two-year exemption."

The top 20 finishers at the end of the season will obtain playing rights in the prestigious European Tour next year.

Rory has just returned home from his residence in the United States, where he honed his golfing skills while studying at a college in California.

He was sixth on the world amateur rankings last August, which earned him a place in the Qualifying School without having to play in the early stages.

His golfing skill caught the Indonesian public's attention when he won the International Championship at the Imperial Golf Club here last year.

He started out this year's campaign at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open in Bali, where he became the only Indonesian competitor to make the cut, before ending up in tied 10th place.

He secured the same position last month at the Singha Open in Pattaya, Thailand, before improving to take joint sixth place at the Sail Open in New Delhi.

Rory is now looking to Europe before returning to the Asian Tour, where he plans to play in 25 tournaments this year, with the Maekyung Open in Seoul his next stop.