In The (Gator) Zone: Horschel's Huge Payday, Tebow's GMA Debut, More Tidbits
Monday, September 15, 2014 | General
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Former Gators golfer Billy Horschel hit the jackpot Sunday.
Horschel pulled away from Rory McIlroy and held off Jim Furyk to win the Tour Championship on Sunday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The $1.4 million winner's check was nice, but Horschel bagged a lot more cash than that.
Horschel claimed the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bonus. The FedEx Cup playoffs consist of the tour's last four tournaments. Prior to Sunday Horschel's career earnings totaled $7.9 million. He added $11.4 million to that total Sunday with his 12th consecutive round in the 60s – a 2-under 68.
“I'm not sure life can be better than this,'' Horschel said.
No one had ever won the FedEx Cup starting the playoffs lower than No. 19 in the standings. Horschel started his run ranked 69th.
Billy Ho with a beautiful Gator Chomp up 18. What a gutsy win and incredible accomplishment. Can't wait to hear about it at Gator Golf Day
— JC Deacon (@realjcdeacon) September 14, 2014
As he celebrated the victory Sunday, Horschel did a few Gator chomps. The crowd of Georgians booed.
Oh well, Horschel was too busy counting his money to notice.
KENTUCKY DC ON GATORS' DR
The best game of Gators receiver Demarcus Robinson's career was fun for Florida fans.
Not so much for Kentucky defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot.
“It was frustrating to me that we didn't stop him,” Eliot told reporters Monday.
Robinson tied a school record with 15 receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Subtract Robinson from the equation, and the Gators had 316 yards on 79 plays – or four yards per play.
However, Robinson averaged 14.4 yards each time he caught a pass.
“He definitely has a lot of speed. He definitely has height. He has great ball skills. He's a great receiver,” Eliot said. “We took some risks and got into some zero coverage and I think he hit us on some of those. He got in one-on-one matchups there that he won.”
TEBOW TIME ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
Former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow spent the weekend in Gainesville as part of his duties as a football analyst for the SEC Network.
He was in New York on Monday morning making his debut as a regular contributor to ABC's Good Morning America. Tebow's role is to highlight inspirational stories involviding people around the country.
Here is a look at his introction to GMA on Monday morning:
EMMITT SMITH GOLF CHALLENGE
Tebow isn't the only former UF football player trying to help kids. Emmitt Smith and his wife, Pat, run a charitable organization that aims to help underserved youth in different communities around the country.
Smith is scheduled in Tampa on Tuesday for the Emmitt Smith Golf Challenge at Tampa Palms and Country Club.
Based on the photo below, Smith isn't the only Gator who will be on the golf course Tuesday:
EASLEY GETS A PICK
Former Gators defensive tackle Dominique Easley is in his first season in the NFL. New England's first-round draft pick, Easley did something rare for a defensive lineman in Sunday's win at Minnesota.
Easley registered his first career interception. He didn't have one at Florida.
"In high school,'' Easley said when asked the last time he had an interception.
Dominique Easley with his first career INTERCEPTION! #NEvsMIN
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 14, 2014
