Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Billy Horschel Faces Off Against Alligator at Cognizant Classic—And Wins!
By Space Coast Daily // February 28, 2025
former Florida Gator himself showed no fear when he spotted the reptilian intruder
Billy Horschel with the Florida Gator, on Florida Gator crime 🐊 pic.twitter.com/1AmeNHCaV1
— BET99 Ontario (@BET99ON) February 27, 2025
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – Golfers are used to navigating sand traps, water hazards, and the occasional wayward shot, but Billy Horschel encountered a different kind of obstacle during the opening round of the Cognizant Classic—an alligator.
Horschel, a Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer and former Florida Gator himself showed no fear when he spotted the reptilian intruder near the sixth hole at PGA National Resort on Thursday.
As a police officer struggled to redirect the gator, Horschel took matters into his own hands—literally. Armed with a 60-degree wedge, he calmly prodded the gator’s shoulder, guiding it away from the course and back into the water.
“I’m not afraid of gators,” Horschel said after the round. “They’re usually more scared of you unless it’s mating season or they’re protecting a nest. Otherwise, they’re fine.”
The brief but bold encounter lasted just seconds as the gator heeded Horschel’s encouragement and slinked back into the water.
Having grown up in Florida, Horschel is no stranger to alligators. He recalled watching his father shoo them off riverbanks in his younger years and admitted that using a golf club for the task felt like second nature.
Despite the wild interruption, Horschel kept his focus on the game, carding a 5-under 66 with four birdies and an eagle. However, he remained seven strokes behind leader Jake Knapp, who made history with a dazzling round of 59—only the 15th time such a feat has been achieved on the PGA TOUR.
While Horschel’s performance on the course was impressive, it was his cool composure in the face of an unexpected challenge that stole the show. For one day at least, he proved that not only can he tame the toughest greens, but he can handle Florida’s wild side as well.
ABOVE VIDEO: Billy Horschel was a four-time All-American at the University of Florida. Only five players in Gator history have received the award four times. (Above video and below story first published in 2014)
BILLY HORSCHEL – 2014 INDUCTEE
• Four-Time All-American
• PGA Professional
• US Amateur Medalist
GRANT NATIVE HAS GATOR PASSION
Take six feet, 175 pounds of golf talent, add a generous dash of Gator passion, and you’ve got Billy Horschel, the Grant native, whose biggest thrill was graduating in 2009 from the University of Florida, often sports the familiar orange and blue Gator tones during golf tournaments.
Neither of Billy’s parents has a college degree, so his diploma is as important to Horschel and his family as his exploits on the golf links.
Horschel’s scholarship to UF allowed him to play for coach Buddy Alexander’s Florida Gator’s men’s golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association competitions from 2006 to 2009 while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sport management.
His university is as equally proud of Horschel as he is of his alma mater, since he is a four-time All-American.
Only five players in Gator history have received the award four times.
Winning comes easily to Horschel, who as an amateur snagged individualist medalist honors at the 2006 U.S. Amateur, shooting a two-day score of 138 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.
His opening round of 60 was an 18-hole tournament and USGA record.
In 2007 and 2009, Horschel received Southeastern Conference Player of the Year awards, joining Camilo Villegas as the only two UF golfers to earn the award more than once.
An athlete of perseverance and determination, Horschel’s biggest golf thrill was walking away with the 2007 Walker Cup.
In 2009, Horschel turned pro after he earned rookie status on the PGA Tour with his success at the qualifying tournament at Bear Lakes Country Club.
In 2013, the young golfer made the cut in every one of the 26 tournaments he entered and finished in the top ten eight times.
His first career PGA Tour victory came last year at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, thanks to six consecutive birdies in the final round en route to an 8-under 64 that gave him the victory.
The week before the tournament, Horschel vowed to Zurich CEO Martin Senn, “I’ll see you Sunday from the winner’s circle.” He made certain of his promise.
When asked what winning the Zurich classic meant to him, Horschel replied with a statement that speaks of his family values.
“I am now able to financially help my parents and my brother,” he said. “This means a lot to me.”
The win at the Big Easy moved Horschel to third in FedEx Cup standings, third on the PGA Tour money list and 49th in the Official World of Golf Ranking.
BRIGHTEST YOUNG STAR ON THE PGA TOUR
In the 2013 U.S. Open, playing in his first major as a professional, Horschel held a joint lead with Phil Mickelson at the halfway point of the tournament.
He was one of only two players under par after the second round. He shot a 285, 4 strokes off the winner and finished tied for 4th in his first pro major, and moved up to 34th in world rankings and 4th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Feisty and passionate, Horschel has already been named one of the Top 10 Most Colorful Players on the PGA Tour. His octopus pants at the U.S. Open probably had something to do with the standing.
As a young player on the tour, Horschel is already involved in helping charities and hopes to one day create his own.
“Billy is one of the brightest young stars in the tour,” said Steve Worthy, CEO of Fore!Kids Foundation, producer of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
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