Nelly Korda is everywhere but a golf course. Having wrapped up a strong T5 finish at the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open, she’s now taking a well-deserved break before the U.S. Women’s Open. Recently, the golfer posted pictures of a ‘girls trip’ on Instagram, showcasing her stunning swimsuit photos from her Sports Illustrated shoot, where she rocked yellow, black, and red bikinis. She’s been having a blast off the course, enjoying her time in the sun and sharing her excitement about being featured in the SI Swimsuit issue alongside other inspiring women. With her feature in the magazine, Korda’s proving that she’s not just a talented golfer, but also a confident and charismatic personality but when the golfer does decide to hit a few balls, something unusual happens.
In her latest Instagram story, Korda posted a video of an alligator just casually walking around the golf course she was on, and honestly, it’s pretty wild. Yet, she remained calm. The golfer took the video sitting in a golf cart from a fairly safe distance and captioned it, “Just another day in Florida” – and well, it is. Florida’s Everglades are home to over three million American alligators, and these incredible creatures play a vital role in shaping their surroundings. They excavate “gator ponds” during the dry season, which provide refuge for plants, fish, and frogs, and build raised nests for their eggs during the rainy season.
Well, this isn’t the first time an alligator has been seen at a golf course. In fact, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is quite familiar with these scaly visitors. During Thursday’s first round last year, a four-legged friend halted play at the 17th hole, forcing groups of Bronson Burgoon and Jhonattan Vegas, as well as Paul Barjon and Samuel Stevens, to wait patiently for the alligator to cross the tee box before teeing off. Although the alligator took its sweet time, the golfers didn’t let it distract them too much – both duos managed to par the hole.
The PGA Tour commentators even reminisced about “Tripod,” a three-legged alligator that previously made an appearance at the tournament, showing that alligators are no strangers to the Zurich Classic course. And we have the perfect example to show you just how comfortable golfers have become with these reptiles.
Billy Horschel deals with an alligator like a true Floridian
Just a few months ago, at the 2025 Cognizant Classic, Billy Horschel had a subtle yet effective encounter with a gator on the course at PGA National Resort. The Florida native, who played college golf for the Florida Gators, wasn’t fazed by the reptilian visitor. When a police officer tried to shoo the gator away with no success, Horschel grabbed his 60-degree wedge and poked the gator’s shoulder, getting it to retreat back to the water. The whole exchange took about six seconds, and Horschel made it look easy. Horschel’s experience with alligators comes from growing up in Florida, where his dad would often shoo them back into the water with a gentle nudge. Horschel had just finished playing the sixth hole at PGA National, his 15th hole of the day in Round 1 of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, and he saw the gator crawling about as he was walking to the next tee.
Horschel’s calm and confident demeanor in the face of a potentially wild situation was impressive, and he even joked about his day in wildlife terms: four birdies, one eagle, and one gator. He shot a 5-under 66, finishing seven shots behind early leader Jake Knapp after his round of 59 — the 15th such round in PGA TOUR history. With a subtle touch, Horschel used his wedge to guide the gator back to the water, showcasing his experience and composure. Can subtlety be the key to handling unexpected situations like this? Let us know in the comment section below!
The post Nelly Korda Has Close Encounter With Alligator & Reacts in a Very Unusual Manner appeared first on EssentiallySports.
