Golfer Vince Whaley hit a par shot on the 11th hole at the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship despite a six-foot alligator appearing near the hazard.

During the 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, golfer Vince Whaley faced a rare distraction on the 11th hole when a six-foot alligator surfaced 20 feet from the water hazard as he prepared to hit a shot. With the animal motionless and in his line of sight, Whaley turned his back, trusted his caddie, and successfully played his shot, then holed out for par. He shot a 67, finishing tied for third. The incident, which occurred on October 5, 2025, drew widespread attention but did not affect his performance.