Former PGA Tour winner Michael S. Kim opened up about a gator spotted at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. The American golfer has teed it up this week on the PGA Tour, which started on Thursday, March 5. While playing on the sixth hole, Kim spotted a gator in a lake.

A fan, Rickey Roach, shared a picture of the gator on his X (formerly Twitter) account. It was reshared by Kim on his social media handle with a caption:

“So glad you took a picture. This thing was a MONSTER. Easily the biggest gator I’ve ever seen.”

Even former Masters winner Trevor Immelman also reacted to the post. He hilariously compared the gator to the Loch Ness Monster, a fictional creature in Scottish folklore.

Meanwhile, after the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Daniel Berger took the lead in the game. He carded a round of 63 and settled with a score of 9-under. He had a three-stroke lead in the game.

Michael S. Kim shoots 75 at Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026

Michael S. Kim kick-started his outing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational 2026 on Thursday, March 5. He had a tough start to his game on the first tee hole at the Bay Hill Club with a bogey.

He then added a bogey on the fourth hole and then a bogey on the ninth. On the back nine, Kim carded two bogeys and two birdies for a 3-over 75 and settled tied for 61st position.

Meanwhile, this season on the PGA Tour, Michael S. Kim kick-started his campaign at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He had a good start to his game and carded rounds of 67, 68, 74 and 65. He settled in at 31st place.

He then struggled with his game and missed the cut at The American Express but then recorded a T18 at the WM Phoenix Open. He was settled in 72nd place at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Kim then again struggled with his game at The Genesis Invitational and missed the cut.

Kim is now looking forward to his game this week. The second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational will kick-start on Friday, March 6, at 7:40 a.m. ET. Nicolai Højgaard will take the first shot of the day in a group with Austin Smotherman, followed by Si Woo Kim, who will tee off in a group with Bud Cauley.

Michael Kim will tee off for the second round in a group with Rickie Fowler at 10:30 a.m. ET. This week, Justin Thomas is also playing. It is his first event on the PGA Tour after surgery.

However, he struggled with his game. He teed it up on the first tee hole and added a bogey on the first hole before adding two more bogeys and a birdie on the front nine. He struggled on the back nine and carded three bogeys, two double bogeys and two birdies on the back nine. He settled with a score of 7-over 79.