PGA Tour Star Chased Away An Alligator During Today's Round

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Feb 27, 2025 7:47 PM ET

Golf isn't a team sport, but that doesn't mean that players don't have to deal with adversity out on the course. Bad weather, course hazards and other oddities have been in golfers' paths over the years, but one PGA Tour star experienced something you certainly won't see every day.

During his round at PGA National during the Cognizant Classic, Billy Horschel saw an alligator on the sixth hole. The former Florida Gator knew what to do in the moment as he approached the animal, and a police office was trying to get it off the course.

Horschel poked the gator with his 60-degree wedge, and the alligator moved back into the water and off the course, allowing him to finish the hole and the rest of his round without incident.

Billy Horschel really walked this gator back to the water pic.twitter.com/1pnV9eyEDV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 27, 2025

"I'm not afraid of gators," Horschel said after finishing up his round on Thursday, shooting a 5-under 66.

"Listen, as I tell most people, I said, they're more afraid of you. The majority of the time they're only going to come after you during mating season where they're a little aggressive and then if you're around their nest when they've got some eggs. The majority of the time, they're fine."

Horschel's score on Thursday was impressive, but he's seven shots behind the clubhouse leader in Jake Knapp. Knapp ended Thursday's round with a bogey-free 59, only the 15th sub-60 round in the history of the PGA Tour.

"I thought I played well," said Daniel Berger - who shot a 63 in his own right - according to ESPN. "But then someone shot 59."

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Billy Horschel of the United States lines up a putt on the second green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Knapp's score set the course record, and he'll look to build on his incredible performance over the next few days. As for Horschel, he reiterated that the brief wildlife encounter on the course Thursday was not out of the ordinary.

"I grew up with my dad grabbing their tail when they're on the side of the bank and shooing them back in the water," the golfer said.

"I never touched a tail with my hand, but I've done it with a club. Not that big of a deal."

Fans can catch Horschel, Knapp and the rest of the players on tour in the second round on Friday, starting at 2 PM ET on the Golf Channel.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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