Michael S. Kim talks about encountering a ‘monster’ at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The world of golf was shaken by an unusual event at the prestigious 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. The famous golfer Michael S. Kim, a PGA Tour winner, could not contain his astonishment when he encountered a true “MONSTER” on the course. During one of his shots in this competition, which began on March 5, Kim spotted a massive alligator swimming in a lake near the sixth hole, a moment that did not go unnoticed by fans.

Rickey Roach, one of the spectators watching the match, captured an impressive image of the gator and posted it on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Kim, recognizing the enormity of the reptile, reposted the photo on his social media and commented: “I’m so glad you took a picture. This thing was a MONSTER. Easily the biggest alligator I’ve ever seen.” Social media quickly filled with reactions, including a humorous comparison made by former Masters winner Trevor Immelman, who jokingly likened the alligator to the legendary Loch Ness Monster, a mythical creature from Scotland.

However, the event was not just about encounters with wildlife. In terms of tournament performance, Daniel Berger took the lead after the first round, with an impressive score of 63, achieving a total of 9 under par and establishing a three-shot advantage over his competitors. On the other hand, Michael S. Kim had a difficult start. After a bogey on the first hole, he was unable to recover and finished his round with a total of 75, tying for 61st place.

This season, Kim began his journey on the PGA Tour at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he had a promising performance, with rounds of 67, 68, 74, and 65, finishing in 31st place. His path, however, has been marked by ups and downs, including an early exit at The American Express and a T18 at the WM Phoenix Open, before finishing 72nd at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. After another attempt at the Genesis Invitational, where he also failed to advance, Kim is now preparing for the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which starts this Friday, March 6, at 7:40 a.m. ET.

Kim is scheduled to play alongside Rickie Fowler at 10:30 a.m. ET, while the well-known Justin Thomas, who is returning to the PGA Tour after surgery, is also participating, although he faced difficulties in his first round. Thomas started with a bogey and, after two more bogeys and a birdie, finished the round with a total of 7 over par, totaling 79.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on how Kim will recover and whether the “MONSTER” of the lake will become an even greater legend in the memories of golfers.