A Florida golfer made the shot of his life with a putter when he used it to escape an alligator that had grabbed him by the ankle. Tony Aarts used his putter to jab the gator in the eyes before the reptile let him go.

WINK-TV reported that Aarts was playing at the Magnolia Landing Golf & Country Club in the Fort Myers area last Wednesday. Approaching the 4th hole, he heard a splash.

“As I was walking about 5ft to 6ft away from the water I heard a splash, and as soon as I heard that splash I knew it was an alligator, and he got me,” Aarts told the news channel.

He said the gator grabbed his right ankle and he ended up on his back before man and animal rolled into a water hazard. The gator let go after the jabs to the eye.

“I remember having a club in my hand, and as soon as he had me in the water up to my waist, I started hitting him over the head,” Aarts said.

“He was looking at me with his big eyes, and I kept hitting him. And I’m thinking I’m getting deeper and deeper, and I thought you’re not gonna get me.”

State wildlife workers captured the gator and put it down. Aarts was treated and released from a hospital.

“It’s a good thing I had that putter,” he said. “It’s a good, solid, heavy putter.”