He chased it away.
An unexpected visitor appeared on the green at PGA National on Thursday afternoon, but a quick-thinking golfer took action to prevent any disruption. Billy Horschel found himself face-to-face with an alligator on the course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. When the reptile made its way across the green, Horschel used a 60-degree wedge to gently nudge the alligator in the shoulder and guide it back into the water, as shown in a video shared by PGATOUR.com staff writer Paul Hodowanic.
As Horschel dealt with the alligator, someone in the background humorously commented, “That’s a gator getting a gator,” referencing Horschel’s affiliation with the University of Florida Gators, where he played college golf. Horschel had just completed the sixth hole at PGA National and was heading toward the seventh when he spotted the alligator crossing the green. A nearby officer had attempted to move the creature along but was unsuccessful.
Realizing the officer needed assistance, Horschel decided to take matters into his own hands. He could either wait for someone with a rake to return or use a club himself to push the alligator away, which he did. “The gator wasn’t going anywhere good,” Horschel explained, adding that he wasn’t afraid of the animal. He noted that alligators are generally more afraid of people unless it’s mating season or they’re protecting their nests.
Horschel also mentioned he wasn’t concerned about his club, as he had extras in his locker. He shared that growing up, his father would sometimes use a club to shoo alligators back into the water, a technique Horschel had learned to handle the situation. After the encounter, Horschel continued with his game and finished the first round of the tournament with a 5-under 66.
