Florida golf course gets a visit from an enormous alligator

Myakka Pines Golf Club got a very scary visitor on the seventh hole green last week when an enormous alligator decided to spend some time there. • Rory McIlroy

Extra Mustard | Mar 11, 2015

Florida golf course gets a visit from an enormous alligator /

Myakka Pines Golf Club got a very scary visitor on the seventh hole green last week when an enormous alligator decided to spend some time there.

• Rory McIlroy shown on Golf Digest cover as 'David'

Post by Myakka Pines Golf Club.

"Enormous" actually does not do this animal justice. Perhaps Jurassic is the proper adjective for a reptile this imposing.

Post by Myakka Pines Golf Club.

• Wilmington BlueRocks are selling a hot dog with a donut bun

The gator is so big that many are claiming the picture must be Photoshopped, but the country club says that the course's newest, and most imposing, hazard is all too real. - Brendan Maloy

GALLERY: WIDLIFE ON THE PLAYING FIELD

Wildlife on Playing Fields

131004112156-tiger-woods-lindsey-vonn-baby-squirrel-single-image-cut.jpg — Chris Condon/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Every now and then sports and nature intersect in a way that one might not expect. Here's a collection, beginning with Sammy the Squirrel, who stole the spotlight at the 2013 Presidents Cup. U.S. captain's assistant Davis Love III started feeding a stray squirrel he found at the second hole at Muirfield Village and the two more or less became friends. Love took the animal into the Americans' team meeting room and all of the American players took a liking to it. Nicki Stricker, Steve's wife, named him, "Sammy." As Love drove in an electric cart watching the four-ball matches, he had the squirrel riding along, sitting in his lap. He/she (no one knows for certain) became an unofficial mascot. As the day came down to the final match, the squirrel was in the middle of the American players and their wives and girlfriends who were watching the tense finish. That's when Lindsey Vonn provided one of the most memorable images of the day. While Tiger Woods stared from the hill near the 18th green, watching the action, Vonn playfully took the squirrel out of Love's right front pocket. She leaned behind Woods and carefully put the squirrel on his neck. He didn't react for an instant, then, obviously annoyed, he tried to shrug the animal away while the rest of the American contingent - including playing partner Matt Kuchar - cracked up.

Justin Leonard wonders what a squirrel is doing on the 10th fairway during the Tampa Bay Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Joel Sjoholm of Sweden gestures to a swan during the BMW International Open in Cologne, Germany.

Sergio Garcia considers an appetizer during the Wachovia Championship.

A squirrel crosses home plate in front of Skip Schumaker and Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Helen Alfredsson of Sweden has her swing interrupted by a rabbit at the Evian Masters in France.

Carlos Costly of Honduras had to manuever around more than the U.S. team while bringing up the ball at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles huddle as pigeons walk on the field at Lincoln Financial in Pennsylvania.

Golfers at the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., had an unusual alligator hazard on the 14th fairway.

The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort in Georgia is known for its alligators, too.

130515145004-australia-golf-lexus-cup-single-image-cut.jpg — Ianin Gillespie/AP

Team Asia captain Se Ri Pak, of South Korea, encounters some kangaroos near the lie of her ball during the Lexus Cup in Perth, western Australia.

An Anhinga stayed far away enough not to ruffle Bubba Watson's feathers at The Players Championship.

A monkey invades the field during Day 2 of a tour match between England and Haryana in Ahmedabad, India.

130515145211-wps-championship-soccer-single-image-cut.jpg — Dan Cappellazzo/AP

A worker tries to trap a squirrel during the WPS championship soccer game between the Western New York Flash and the Philadelphia Independence in Rochester, N.Y.,

130515145205-tiger-woods-0591249fd-0-single-image-cut.jpg — Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

Tiger Woods walks past a turtle on the sixth fairway during the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

An unstartled rabbit stands its ground at Bull Bay Golf Course in Amlwch, Wales.

David DeJesus enjoys the view at Wrigley Field during a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Craig Goodfellow and Simon Edwards had plenty of company at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England

A crab enjoyed a stroll at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Crown Golf English PGA Assistants' Championship finals in London test a golfer's focus in more ways than one.

A toad sits on the pitch during an international match between India and the West Indies at Beausejour Cricket Ground, in Gros-Islet, St. Lucia.

Seagulls challenge each other as right fielder Hunter Pence of the San Francisco Giants awaits action at Wrigley Field.

Kane Lucas of the Carlton Blues runs with the ball with seagulls in Melbourne, Australia.

Thomas Norret of Denmark walks the 4th hole in Perth, Australia, as a kangaroo hops past.

Jason Dufner of the U.S. had a similar experience in Perth.

Karrie Webb of Australia waits for the kangaroos to clear the fairway in Canberra, Australia.

Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt walks behind a squirrel in Philadelphia.

A monkey runs across a fairway in Durban, South Africa.

An inquisitive racoon inspects a golf ball at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami.

A golfer glances at a fox in Saunton, England.

Scott Saunders, surrounded by Kangaroos, at the Angelsea golf club.

A squirrel scores at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Ohio.

Sheep roam around the course at Southerndown Golf Club.

Thomas Bjorn looks at a peacock as he waits to play in New Delhi.

Published Mar 11, 2015

EXTRA MUSTARD

Where Culture Meets Sports: Your dose of Hot Clicks, viral videos, bizarre and hilarious stories and more from the intersection of pop culture and sports.