PGA Tour golfer Vince Whaley nails shot in front of alligator

October 6, 2025
3,235 Views


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Private eyes were watching PGA Tour golfer Vince Whaley trying to get out of a jam on the par-5 11th hole at the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday in Jackson, Mississippi.

Whaley stepped into some murky water to play a shot. He looked cautiously over his shoulder to find a 6-foot alligator staring him down. Somehow, he managed to save par on the hole and get out of harm’s way in the process.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Vince Whaley in the Sanderson Farms Championship

Vince Whaley plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson on Oct. 5, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

He said he figured the reptile was about 20 feet away when he attempted his shot.

“Well, thankfully my back was to him, so I could focus on the shot for a second,” Whaley said, adding that he had “a lot of trust” in his caddie watching his back.

The alligator never moved, but Whaley revealed the plan should it have crept closer.

RYDER CUP HOST DENIES LEADING OBSCENE RORY MCILROY CHANTS THAT LED TO RESIGNATION, APOLOGIZES FOR REPEATING

Vince Whaley hits a ball out of the bunker

Vince Whaley hits his ball out of a bunker at the fifth green during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“The plan was to get the hell out of the water,” he said.

Whaley finished 5-under par for the round and 19-under for the tournament at Country Club of Jackson. He was tied for third for the tournament with Rasmus Højgaard and Danny Walker. Steven Fisk finished two strokes better than Garrick Higgo to win the tournament.

The 30-year-old golfer has played 135 events in his PGA Tour career. Though he has no wins, he’s made 84 cuts, finished five times in the top five and 11 times in the top 10.

Vince Whaley and Max Homa make their way down the fairway

Vince Whaley and Max Homa walk down the No. 1 fairway during the fourth round of the Sanderson Farms Championship, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He has three top 10 finishes during the 2025 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





Source link

You may be interested

People held by ICE dying by suicide at increasing, high rate, AP probe finds
Top Stories
shares2,520 views
Top Stories
shares2,520 views

People held by ICE dying by suicide at increasing, high rate, AP probe finds

new admin - May 27, 2026

Brayan Rayo Garzon was distraught. Detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he was on his fourth day of isolation in…

War of Words Over U of Florida’s Presidential Pick
Education
shares2,923 views
Education
shares2,923 views

War of Words Over U of Florida’s Presidential Pick

new admin - May 27, 2026

[ad_1] Controversy is once again swirling over the University of Florida’s presidential pick. When UF announced former University of Alabama…

Court gives Mahmoud Khalil more time to fight Trump administration’s efforts to deport him
Top Stories
shares3,003 views
Top Stories
shares3,003 views

Court gives Mahmoud Khalil more time to fight Trump administration’s efforts to deport him

new admin - May 27, 2026

A federal appeals court is giving former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil more time to fight the Trump administration's…