Billy Horschel fearlessly chases an ALLIGATOR off the fairway at PGA National!
While Jake Knapp stole the headlines with his incredible round of 59 in the opening round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic, it was Billy Horschel who wowed fans by fearlessly shifting an alligator off the PGA National Member’s Course.
The PGA Tour was paying its annual visit to Palm Beach Gardens in the state of Florida where alligators roaming freely are common on the tropical golf courses across the Sunshine State.
However, the tactic usually is to leave the huge gators be and respect their space – but not for tour favourite Horschel!
The eight-time PGA Tour event winner attended the University of Florida aka the Gators, and was born and raised in the golf-rich state.
Consequently, he is no stranger to alligators and showed this when he fearlessly shooed a sun-kissed gator away from the fans with nothing but a Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks 60° as a defence in Thursday’s opening round.
Horschel said: “I’m not afraid of gators, as I tell most people they’re more afraid of you – they’re only likely to come at you during mating season when they’re a little aggressive.
“I grew up with my Dad grabbing their tails on the side of the bank and shooing them back into the water,” he added.
On his weapon of choice, the Gators alumni laughed, “I had a 60-degree (wedge) in my hand which was lucky because I have two more in the locker room if one of them became… unavailable.”
The 38-year-old spent his entire childhood and student days in Florida where he met his now wife, Brittany, on the University golf squad.
Horschel opened the Cognizant Classic with an impressive 66 but that was still seven behind Knapp’s stunning first round.
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