In one of the more surreal moments seen on the PGA Tour this season, Vince Whaley kept his composure under very unusual pressure to save par — with a six-foot alligator watching from just a few feet away.
The incident unfolded during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. After a wayward tee shot, Whaley ventured into ankle-deep water to retrieve his ball. As he did so, an alligator’s head emerged from the murky edge of the water, its eyes fixed on the golfer.
Despite the obvious danger, Whaley remained steady. He turned his back to the reptile, relying on his instincts and the trust he placed in his caddie to monitor the creature’s movements. “Thankfully my back was to him so I could focus on the shot for a second,”said.
He splashed the ball out short of the green, then safely got up and down to secure par. The alligator never stirred.
Afterwards, Whaley posted about the moment on Instagram with light humour, writing, “Saved par and both hands … sorry, Chubbs!” — a playful reference to Happy Gilmore.
On the broader scale, Whaley finished his round with a five-under 67, tying for third place, five strokes behind champion Steven Fisk.
This isn’t the first time golf and alligators have crossed paths. Earlier this year, Billy Horschel had to chase one away with a club during the Cognizant Classic, reminding spectators how the sport sometimes collides with the wild.
Whaley’s calm under pressure, both on the course and in dealing with such a startling interruption, earned him admiration beyond the leaderboard. It was a moment that will be talked about for its audacity, its humour, and its reminder that in golf, you never quite know what—or who—you’ll find lurking near the water.
