An image of a ginormous alligator spiced up the laid back golfing tournament in Florida. Undeterred golfers continued to putt despite the presence of the reptile.
The Valspar Championship took place March 6 at the Myakka Pines Golf Club in Englewood and the club posted the photos of the said event along with the alligator and became an automatic hit on the Internet. The alligator was estimated to be 12 to 13 feet (3.6 to 4 meters) in length, according to Yahoo. The club's managers explained that the reptile was trekking from pond-to-pond crossing the greens.
This is not the first time that an alligator was spotted in the golf course. Mickie Zada, general manager of the golf club, explained that there were probably "hundreds" of alligators on the 27-hole golf course, according to The Huffington Post. She explained that if golfers stopped playing whenever they saw alligators on putting greens, "we'd never half golfers."
Zada revealed that "Big George," a 15-foot (4.5-metre) long alligator, was a resident of the golf course until he passed away. In the 37-year history of the golf club, no alligator has ever attacked a human. Florida wildlife officials explain that most confrontations between humans and alligators usually result from the humans feeding them.
Aside from alligators, other wild animals like a bobcat and turtles were also spotted in the golf course making it a part of its charm.
Zada also said that the club received numerous calls from reporters asking whether the viral image was Photoshopped, which Zada denied.
The famous Englewood alligator does not have a nickname yet. While Zada suggested that the golf club might name him "Viral," it is taking suggestions on its Facebook page.