Billy Horschel encountered an alligator during the opening round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic at PGA National's Champion course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The incident occurred near the 7th hole when a roughly 6-foot alligator appeared on the course.

Without hesitation, Horschel, a Florida native and University of Florida alumni, took matters into his own hands. After seeing a police officer's unsuccessful attempts to shoo away the reptile, Horschel grabbed a 60-degree wedge from his bag and approached the alligator.

"I'm not afraid of gators," Horschel explained. "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."

Using the club, he tapped the alligator on its skull, causing it to snap its jaws before retreating to a nearby pond. Horschel pursued it to ensure it completely left the course, demonstrating remarkable composure throughout the encounter.

The pro golfer explained his choice of using a 60-degree wedge, noting he had two backup wedges in his locker if the alligator damaged this one. The incident didn't affect his performance – he finished the round with back-to-back birdies on holes 8 and 9, posting a five-under 66 for Round 1, placing him T16 and seven shots behind leader Jake Knapp.

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Horschel's advice for golfers in Florida: Alligators are generally harmless unless it's mating season or you're near their nests. He learned from his father's example of safely managing alligator encounters, though he prefers using clubs rather than handling them directly.

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