The Cognizant Classic kicked off at PGA National on Thursday, formally starting the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing. Golf is off and running now.
With the PGA Tour now in Florida, golf fans are catching a glimpse of the environment akin to the southeast. Humid temperatures are all the rage and you know what else is out? Gators!
Billy Horschel, a Florida Gator himself, encountered one DURING THE MIDDLE OF HIS ROUND ON THURSDAY and took it upon himself to chase it back into the water. This actually happened! Brentley Romine of the Golf Channel captured the incident on video:
“I’m not afraid of gators. 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,” Horschel explained.
“The majority of the time, they’re fine. 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. I never touched a tail with my hand but I’ve done it with a club. Not that big of a deal.
Horschel, who yours truly picked to win this week incidentally, fired a 5-under 66 on Thursday, on top of literally fighting an alligator!
Even more hilarious is that Horschel used a 60-degree wedge, the shortest club in his bag outside his putter.
“I didn’t think about it, but the good thing I did grab a 60 because I’ve got two extra ones in the locker so if that one did become unavailable, I had two more in the locker,” Horschel said.
You should always keep your head on a swivel in the world of sports, but this is an entirely different thing to be ready for, even during the Florida Swing.
Kudos to Billy for thinking on his feet.
