Chilean Felipe Aguilar joked he was more scared of his wife than any virus-carrying mosquito.
Aguilar shared the clubhouse lead on day one of the Scottish Open with Aussie Scott Hend, and with both reaffirming a commitment to compete in next month’s Olympic Games.
Chilean Olympian Felipe Aguilar jokes he more scared of his wife and than mosquito.
The pair recorded three under par 69s in bright but very windy conditions on the Castle Stuart course to the east of Inverness in northern Scotland.
Their efforts come after Zimbabwean Brandon de Jonge and Columbia’s Camillo Villegas brought to 15 the number of male golfers to withdraw from the Rio Olympics.
Aguilar’s won twice on the European Tour and on top of being the sole Olympic golf representative for Chile at the Olympics will next week also will become the first Chilean to compete in golf’s oldest Major.
Aguilar, who is a distant relative to one of those rescued in the 2010 Chilean mine collapse, is also ready to embrace the Olympics and given Chile was also one of the nations that participated in the rebirth of the modern Olympics in 1896.
In fact, Chile won it’s only two gold medals in the history of the Games in tennis at the 2004 Athlen’s Olympics.
“Look, I’m more scared of my wife than any mosquito,” Aguilar said laughing.
“I think those players who have withdrawn are over-exaggerating the problem and their decision had more to do with just travelling to Brazil than any concern being bitten by mosquitoes.
“When the World Cup was in Brazil two years ago you didn’t hear of any concerns did you?
“So I think those who are not going are only trying to protect themselves which is fair enough.
“I took my wife and family to the London Olympics in 2012 and we just loved it as it was a great opportunity to feel the Olympic spirit.
“Now to be representing my country in the very next Olympics is something I would have never of dreamed of when my grandfather introduced me to golf.
“But then I feel sorry not for the Olympics Games but for golf in general and those also who worked so hard to get golf into the Olympics.”
The 43-year old Hend, who has won twice this year, capped his round eagling his 11th hole while Aguliar, and two years younger than his Australian colleague, had moved to four under par after 16 holes before dropping a shot at the last.
Hend found his way into the Australian Men’s Olympic golf team after the withdrawal of both Adam Scott and Marc Leishman and then confirmed as the top-ranked Australian teeing-up in Rio with the withdrawal early last week of compatriot and World No. 1 Jason Day.
Scott Hend puts himself again in contention this season.
“I was getting ready for the French Open last week when Jason announced he was pulling out and it was the same day I also found out I am into next week’s Open and also was informed I will be competing in the PGA Championship,” he said.
“So to find out on the one day I was confirmed in the Olympics and the final two Majors of the season was a great hat-trick for me.
“But as far as playing in the Olympic Games is going to be awesome knowing that I will be pulling on the Australian colours is going to be a phenomenal experience and I just can’t wait for it to happen.”
