Billy Horschel’s Gator Encounter: The Florida Native’s Calm under Pressure
Billy Horschel’s connection with Florida goes beyond golf. It influenced his calm demeanor in the first round of the Cognizant Classic. Horschel is a seasoned PGA Tour pro who encountered an alligator on the 7th hole, after paring the 6th.
Horschel said, “Just as I was about to reach seven, the gator came across.” This illustrates the informality with which Floridians come into contact with such animals.
Horschel, seeing the groundskeeper hesitated, took things into his own hand. The cop working alongside us went over and attempted to push him away, but had nothing to do with him. He was just trying to get close. Someone was going to need to get up on No. Either grab the rake at No. 8, or I grabbed my club from 30 yards and 25 yards and went there to push him away. Listen to him, he wasn’t going anywhere good. “So I went there and helped the officer.” Horschel did more than just nudge the alligator. He actively guided it into the water. This confidence was born of years spent living with reptiles.
Horschel appeared to be revitalized by the incident. This encounter calmed Horschel’s game. After an uneven start to his first six-holes, it seemed that the incident had revitalized him. Horschel birdied his next four holes, without making any bogeys, and finished with 5-under-par, but still behind the leader Jake Knapp.
Horschel’s attitude of fearlessness is due to his early upbringing. “I am not afraid of alligators. Listen, as I tell most people… they’re more afraid of you. Most of the time, they will only come at you when it’s mating period and they can be a little aggressive. If you are around their nest during this period they may also attack. “Most of the time they are fine”, he said.
It’s not a new thing for him to treat alligators with such nonchalance. I grew up watching my father grab their tails when they were on the banks and push them into the water. Although I have never done so with my hands, I did it several times with a golf club. It’s not that important.”
Horschel’s actions are downplayed, but many golfers or spectators find this close-up encounter with an Alligator frightening. The PGA Tour’s golfers face unique challenges when it comes to wildlife at tournaments like the Cognizant Classic in Florida.