AGUILAR: THIS WILL CHANGE MY LIFE

Features

bruced
February 17, 2008

Felipe Aguilar believes his maiden European Tour victory at the Indonesia Open today will have “life-changing” implications on the rest of his career.

Felipe Aguilar believes his maiden European Tour victory at the Indonesia Open today will have “life-changing” implications on the rest of his career.
The 33-year-old Chilean is no stranger to success in his homeland having won over 30 events there, but had struggled to match that form elsewhere in the world.
Aguilar endured an unsuccessful rookie season on the European Tour in 2006 which culminated in him being unable to keep his card.
But he enjoyed a superb season on the Challenge Tour last year, winning twice, to regain his place on the circuit.
A tied for 81st finish at the Indian Masters last week – his first tournament of year – did little to suggest that success on the Tour was forthcoming.
But Aguilar was solid over the four rounds at the Cengkareng Golf Club and held his nerve on the final hole today to edge Jeev Milkha Singh by one stroke and capture the USD200,000 winner’s cheque.
“This is life changing for me,” said Aguilar. “It changes your schedule and I can play whatever I want to play and hopefully there is more of this to come.
“I said a couple of days ago that I feel like I have the game and that I am playing well but I had to hope I got that week – well this was that week.”
It was all decided on the par-four 18th as Singh approached the last holding a one-shot lead at 18-under.
Aguilar, meanwhile, had understandably put in a relatively nervy performance in the final round, losing his overnight two-stroke lead and needing a birdie on the final hole to at least guarantee a play-off.
He hit a good tee-shot before chipping to within five feet of the pin and then kept his cool to make a birdie putt.
Though Singh had hit into the rough from his drive he recovered well but when he struck the ball for his par putt he could only watch in dismay as it lipped out to hand Aguilar the victory.
“I didn’t expect him to make a bogey,” added Aguilar.
“I have a pretty good record in play-offs and I was hoping for that so I could take my chances.
“But the opposite happened and I am not going to complain about that.”
Aguilar finished with a two-under-par 68 for 18 under overall while Singh was a stroke behind after carding a three under 67.
Chris Rodgers took the honour as the highest-placed Briton after a superb final-round score of six-under-par 64 secure a tie for 10th at 13 under.
Philip Golding, the 2003 French Open winner, had pulled himself to within three shots of the lead after nine but a disappointing run coming home meant he carded a two under 68 for 12 under overall.
“I’m little disappointed as I had got it going and was four under at the turn which was perfect,” said the 45-year-old.
“I looked and was just three or four off the lead, but had a couple of mistakes coming home, the three putt at the last was frustrating but overall it’s been good here.”