By
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a Newsweek contributor based in Georgia. Her focus is golf and social media. Savannah has been with Newsweek since February 2025 and previously worked at SB Nation and Fansided. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia. You can get in touch with Savannah by emailing s.richardson@newsweek.com or following her on X @SportsGirlSL.
Savannah Leigh Richardson
Contributing Sports Writer
news article
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Share
✓ Link copied to clipboard!
Billy Horschel went viral for getting rid of a gator mid-round at the Cognizant Classic in South Florida.
Horschel used one of his clubs to push the gator in the opposite direction and back into the pond. He stalked it until the alligator submerged into the water and did not walk towards the crowd.
Once the video went viral on social media, the reactions were wild. The best came from golf influencer Paige Spiranac.
“The best part is the jog after to keep pace of play. Legend,” Spiranac wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After Horschel shooed the gator into the water, he could have walked to catch up with the other group members, but he did not. Instead, the former Florida Gator jogged to keep up the pace of play.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 28: Billy Horschel of the United States prepares to play his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches 2025…
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 28: Billy Horschel of the United States prepares to play his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches 2025 at PGA National Resort And Spa on February 28, 2025 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
More
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
There has been plenty of scrutiny about the pace of play on the PGA Tour. Fans complain often about it. Spiranac has publicly criticized the Tour for not penalizing players for playing slow.
She had to take the opportunity and give Horschel credit for not slowing down the guys behind him.
It was a smaller gator, but still, there are not a lot of PGA Tour players who would even approach the animal. Horschel did and looked like Steve Irwin doing it.
“Listen, he was going nowhere good. So I just went over there — helped the cop,” Horschel said after the first round of the Cognizant Classic.
The Atlanta Drive TGL member used his 60-degree wedge to shoo the gator back into the pond and stayed in time for the round.
If Horschel can wrangle a gator and still keep pace of play, there is no reason for the other Tour members not to play faster.
More Golf: PGA Tour: Cognizant Classic Full Payout of $9 Million Purse
