Florida Gator Billy Horschel Faces Off Against Actual Gator at PGA National

Billy Horschel was tasked with chasing a gator off the course during his opening round of the Cognizant Classic.

Billy Horschel wrangled a gator during the first round of the Cognizant Classic. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

During the first round of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, a gator wandered onto the golf course, which isn't entirely unusual during the PGA Tour's Florida swing.

Unfortunately for the large reptile, there was another Gator already occupying that hole: Billy Horschel. The former University of Florida Gator fearlessly chased the gator off of the fairway and safely out of the way.

Takes a Gator to tame a gator here at PGA National pic.twitter.com/jc8SG9VjcR

— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) February 27, 2025

“Yeah, I’m not afraid of gators,” Horschel said. “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.

“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.”

After wrangling the gator, Horschel continued his round, which turned out to be a pretty good one: he shot 5-under 66, good for T10 on the leaderboard with the afternoon wave still to come.