EXCLUSIVE: Hungry caiman alligators are in the water at the Olympic golf course - but Bubba Watson says he is totally relaxed about it

Bubba Watson, Team USA's golf captain, has declared himself pleased with Rio's Olympic course - despite an infestation of caiman reptiles.

The reptiles, a smaller relative of the alligator, which are responsible for a handful of fatal attacks on humans each year, have taken up residence next to holes two, three, five and nine.

But speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Online as he wrapped up on day two of the men's golf tournament, Watson said he had enjoyed his first competitive outing on the course.

'It's been fine,' he said. 'I've had a good day.'

Not safe to go in the water: This is one of the caimans in the water hazards at the Olympics - the latest problem to hit the Games

Close to the water hazard: Bubba Watson (third from right) watches after Matt Kuchar of the USA putss on the third green - near where one of the caiman infestations are 

One that got away: As well as caiman, the golf course is infested with capybara, which can be preyed on by the caiman - with this one apparently making a close escape

PGA Tour spokesman Joel Schuchmann, who is part of the team overseeing the Olympic golf tournament, said the reptiles, which can grow up to five feet although are usually smaller, had been the stars of the show earlier in the week but have faded into the background as play got under way.

'It was a big topic of conversation during the practice rounds but now, with the tournament underway, the players are really focused on the game,' he said.

'There have been capybaras and little owls that have burrowed into some of the holes, plus caimans but no one is seriously worried about those.'

Caiman attacks on humans are generally rare, although bites have been known to happen.

Earlier this week, Sergio Garcia – one of the few big name golfers to take part in the Olympics – was pictured practicing apparently meters from a lurking caiman, while others have spoken of seeing a panoply of wildlife – among them capybaras, a species of giant rodent.

The capybara grow up to three feet long and are the largest species of rodent in the world.  

Meanwhile, Austrian golfer Bernd Wiesberger, 30, has taken to Twitter to tell of his close encounters with the local wildlife – noting: 'Stat of the day – capybaras 2, caimans 1, owls 3, mosquitos 0.'

Support: Team USA's captain Bubba Watson was delighted to meet patriotic supporters at the Olympic course 

Back on form: Bubba Watson was the best-performing American on Friday, with a four under par 67 which puts him six off bronze medal position

Texas-based Danny Lee, who plays for New Zealand, also spotted a lurking reptile during a practice round – and was photographed dropping his clubs to take a souvenir snap.

CBS golf analyst Ian Baker Finch has also taken note of the influx of wildlife and yesterday posted a photo of a capybara, which look similar to guinea pigs, sunning itself beside one of the holes.

Golf, which got underway on Thursday, has returned to the Olympics this year after an absence of more than a century.

'This is a chance for us to expand, to attract new fans in other markets and for golf to take a turn on the world stage - to get a global audience,' added Schuchmann.

'For the players, it's a chance to be in a place they would never have gone otherwise, to meet people in the athletes village they would never have come across and it's fun for them. This is really a chance to expand our golf family.'

Team USA golfers, led by Watson, arrived in Rio on Monday morning – having spent the weekend competing in the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

At the Olympic Golf Course, which occupies part of the Marapendi Reserve, Friday began wet and windy - putting off spectators, who began to trickle in later in the afternoon.

Fore! A capybara strode across the course earlier this week in full of players and fans

Drop shot: Sergio Garcia paused during a practice round at the 5th hole earlier this week to snap a capybara - while caiman were lurking in the water

Risky move: Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland dipped her club into the water at the fifth hole despite the risk of caiman, when she was practicing earlier in the week

Despite the increasingly sunny weather, many of the seats remained empty - which a local official, who declined to be named, put down to the sport's relatively low profile in Brazil.

'Golf is not really popular in Brazil - football, beach volleyball and swimming yes, golf no,' he said.

'Only a handful of people play it. We've had a lot more people here today - yesterday it was raining so everyone stayed away.'

Olympic golf is not the only sport to have been blighted by low ticket sales, with even showpiece sports such as athletics failing to excite the locals.

This morning, the heptathlon and hurdles began against a backdrop of empty seats, while tickets to the golf were available to purchase from official booths for just 50 reais ($15.68).

Swimming, including Michael Phelps' gold medal showdown with Chad Le Clos on Tuesday, has also been affected, as have tennis, basketball and niche sports such as handball.

On top of low ticket sales, the diving and water polo pools have turned green over the last few days, with Rio 2016 organizers forced to close them completely today due to the seriousness of the algae infestation unearthed.

Rowing events have now been called off twice due to bad weather, while soccer matches have been blighted by fans shouting 'zika, zika' and empty seats.