- Billy Horshel bravely shepherds an alligator who has wandered onto the course
- The Florida native proves himself to be a bit of an expert on the large reptiles
- Horshel was stepping in to help a cop who was struggling with the alligator
Billy Horschel stunned golf fans on Thursday by nonchalantly tackling an alligator who had wandered onto the course at PGA National in Florida.
Upon seeing the reptile, Horschel, 38, calmly grabbed a wedge from his bag and strode in for a confrontation. He poked the alligator lightly on its shoulder with his club, urging it to change direction. He then herded it safely back into the water.
Horschel could hardly have been suited for the situation. A Sunshine state native, he played his college golf for the Florida and revealed that he had plenty of encounters with alligators when growing up.
Indeed, as it turns out, Horschel appears to be a bit of an expert on the animals. A true case of right man at the right place at the right time.
‘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.’
Billy Horschel brave approaches the alligator and nudges it away from the course with his club
The Florida native then calmly shepherds the large reptile back safely into the water
He modestly insisted that his heroics were ‘no big deal’ and we shouldnt be afraid of alligators
Horshel then went on to explain just why he knows so much about alligators.
‘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,’ he said.
‘I never touched a tail with my hand but I’ve done it with a club. Not that big of a deal.’
Horschel had just finished playing the sixth hole at PGA National, his 15th hole of the day in Round 1 of the Cognizant Classic. As he was walking to the next tee, he saw the alligator prowling as a police officer timidly tried to shoo it away to no avail.
‘He was going nowhere good,” Horschel added. ‘So, I just went over there, helped the cop.’
