JACKSON, Miss. – A moment of tension was experienced by golfer Vince Whaley during the Sanderson Farms Championship, when he encountered an alligator approximately 6 feet long while playing a shot. Whaley, with an excellent performance in the tournament, had to figure out how to concentrate on his game despite the presence of the reptile. The incident occurred on the 11th hole, a par 5, where Whaley had to execute a shot from the water’s edge. The alligator, about 20 feet away, was closely watching the situation.
Whaley, who at that moment was one stroke off the lead, relied on his caddie to monitor the animal while he focused on the game. Despite the alligator’s proximity, Whaley managed to execute his shot, leaving the ball near the green and subsequently, achieved par. The golfer finished the day with a score of 67 strokes, tying for third position in the championship. Faced with the question of what he would have done if the caiman had moved, Whaley replied with humor:Well, fortunately, I turned my back so I could focus on the shot for a second.
Vince Whaley
The plan was to run out of the water.
Vince Whaley
