A Florida golfer showed his local expertise by shooing away an alligator with his golf club during Thursday’s first round of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National.
Billy Horschel, a former Florida Gators star, didn’t think twice about helping when he spotted the reptile heading toward spectators after finishing the sixth hole.
“I’m not afraid of gators,” the Florida native said with a shrug.
A police officer was already on the scene but struggled to direct the alligator back to one of the course’s many lakes. That’s when Horschel stepped in, using his 60-degree wedge to give the gator a gentle nudge in the right direction.
It wasn’t exactly what you’d expect to see during a PGA Tour event, but at PGA National, alligator sightings aren’t uncommon.
“They’re more afraid of you,” Horschel explained, speaking like a true Floridian. “The majority of the time they’re only going to come after you during mating season or if you’re around their nest.”
Growing up in Florida gave Horschel plenty of experience with these scaly visitors. “I grew up with my dad grabbing their tail when they’re on the side of the bank,” he said. “I’ve never touched a tail with my hand, but I’ve done it with a club. Not that big of a deal.”
The incident provided some extra excitement on what was already a remarkable day at PGA National, where Jake Knapp had earlier fired one of the rare sub-60 rounds in PGA Tour history.
When asked about the police officer’s predicament, Horschel couldn’t help but crack a joke: “As Cam said before I went over there, what was he going to do, try and use a Tazer on him?”
The gator eventually made its way back to the water, thanks to Horschel’s impromptu wildlife management skills. Just another day on the Florida swing of the PGA Tour.
