Billy Horschel chases alligator back into water at PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic
A Florida man can come in handy from time to time. On Thursday, Florida native and professional golfer Billy Horschel chased an alligator back into the water at the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic.
The gator had crawled onto the fairway and was impeding play until Horschel casually approached it and poked it with his club. The alligator scurried away, with Horschel trailing closely behind to ensure that it didn’t try any further funny business.
Ironically, Horschel was a star on the Florida Gators‘ golf team from 2006-09. While at UF, Horschel was a four-time All-American, including three first-team honors. Moreover, he was the SEC Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009.
He boasts eight career wins on the PGA Tour and three on the European Tour. Now, Horschel is looking to add another victory to his résumé. As of this report, Horschel is 4-under-par through 17 holes.
Tiger Woods returns to competition after death of his mother
In other golf news, Tiger Woods made his return to competitive golf after spending a week away following the death of his mother, Kultida. He was on hand for the previous week’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, which he hosts, but didn’t play.
Before returning last Tuesday, Woods last competed at TGL Jan. 27 – Jupiter Links’ first victory. That also turned out to be the final time Kultida Woods saw him play. She passed away Feb. 4. Tuesday night marked his return to competition, and although he’s still dealing with the loss of his mother, he pointed out the fact Kultida last watched him play at SoFi Center.
“It’s a process,” Woods told Scott Van Pelt ahead of the match. “This was the last time she ever watched me play. It’s a bit emotional, coming in here tonight. Kiz and TK [Kevin Kisner and Tom Kim], they gave me huge hugs and we’re ready to go as a team.”
Woods’ mother died at 78 years old. In an interview with CBS, the legendary golfer opened up on his mother’s passing.
“Yeah, Mom was my rock,” Woods said. “My dad worked at McDonnell Douglas at that time and was working on the delta rocket. Mom would take me to every junior event here in Southern California… She’d drive out there and keep score and walk every hole – how many putts I hit, how many fairways I hit, how many greens I hit. She tracked it all.”
