What started as a comedic golf swing in a 1996 movie has become something of a legitimate technique in professional golf. Yes, we’re talking about the infamous “Happy Gilmore” swing, which found an unlikely advocate in three-time major champion Padraig Harrington. The Irish golf legend didn’t just attempt the running swing for laughs—he actually incorporated it into his training regime, proving that sometimes the most unorthodox methods can yield surprising results.

The influence of Adam Sandler’s hockey player-turned-golfer character extends far beyond just training techniques. From John Peterson opening a 2017 CIMB Classic round with a Gilmore-style drive to Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth attempting the running swing during practice sessions, Happy Gilmore has become deeply woven into professional golf’s fabric. It’s a rare instance where Hollywood’s interpretation of the sport has left an indelible mark on its professional ranks.

Now that Happy Gilmore 2 is in the works, fans and players are excited for it, alike. Netflix has just dropped a BTS teaser for “Happy Gilmore 2,” featuring an impressive roster of golf’s elite. It showed Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, and Will Zalatoris all donning the iconic gold “Tour Championship” jacket—a meaningful callback to the original film’s climactic prize.

The involvement of current golf stars isn’t just a marketing gimmick. Scheffler, the former World No. 1, shared his enthusiasm, saying, “It definitely brings back a lot of memories from the first one.” McIlroy echoed these sentiments with genuine excitement: “Obviously this is a completely different experience for me, but I can’t believe I’m a part of it.”

This collaboration comes at a pivotal time for golf entertainment. Netflix has been steadily building its golf content portfolio, first with the documentary series “Full Swing,” and now with this highly anticipated sequel. Even Ben Stiller, reprising his role as orderly Hal, referenced this expanding golf presence in a humorous exchange with Justin Thomas about “Full Swing” during the teaser. He started by calling it a good show, but then when JT told him that he doesn’t have to say that, he humorously said, “The show is just awful.”

The announcement has sparked a wave of reactions from golf enthusiasts, perfectly capturing the sport’s evolving relationship with popular culture.

Fan reactions show golf’s cultural evolution

Many fans immediately connected with the original film’s iconic moments, with one golf fan referencing the memorable scene where Happy misses his dinner date with Virginia, commenting, “9th green at 9!?” 9!”—a line that became synonymous with poor timing in golf culture.

The excitement around the sequel is understandable, considering the original was released around 3 decades ago and had a massive impact on golf culture. One enthusiastic netizen exclaimed, “This is going to be mega 🙌🏼🙌🏼 can’t wait!!” While another fan threw in the classic quote, “Gold jacket, green jacket…who gives a shit”—a nod to Happy’s irreverent attitude toward golf’s traditional symbols.

The anticipation has led to increasing demands for more details, with golf fans enthusiastically posting, “WE WANT A RELEASE DATE!!!!”. While Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed the exact date. Adam Sandler has indicated a likely July 2025 release on the streaming platform.

In the context of the ongoing rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, some fans found humor in Brooks Koepka’s appearance, with one netizen quipping, “@bkoepka in the preview? Intern is getting fired.” The comment plays on the tension between the two tours, as Koepka was one of the high-profile players who departed the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

Perhaps most tellingly, some fans see this collaboration as a potential solution to the PGA Tour’s recent viewership challenges. One observer pointedly noted, “Sandler single-handedly going to save PGA’s relevance and get new fans, lol.” The emergence of LIV Golf has led to a fractured professional golf landscape. In this context, many believe the Happy Gilmore collaboration could be exactly what the PGA Tour needs to attract fresh audiences to the sport.

This reunion of Hollywood comedy and professional golf promises to add another chapter to their surprisingly intertwined history. Will Happy Gilmore’s return help bridge the gap between traditional golf and popular culture once again? What are your thoughts on seeing today’s golf stars step into Happy’s world? Let us know in the comments section below!