The REAL Happy Gilmore! Young college golfer with incredible name is sent good luck message by Adam Sandler after committing to Ball State
- Adam Sandler played the title character in the 1996 comedy ‘Happy Gilmore’
- Now there’s a real-life player by the same name, and Sandler is rooting for him
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Golf may just have found its next big superstar, after the brilliantly-named Happy Gilmore committed to playing for Ball State at college.
The Bloomington South senior – who shares the name of the legendary Adam Sandler character from the 1996 comedy of the same name – is surely destined for big things.
And he’s even got Sandler rooting for him, after the legendary Hollywood actor tweeted in response to the news, writing: ‘Go get em Happy. Pulling for you.’
In response, Happy replied again, noting: ‘My life is complete.’
Gilmore will head to Ball State in Indiana with plenty of attention upon his shoulders, and he admits he is regularly questioned about his name.
The brilliantly-named Happy Gilmore has committed to playing college golf for Ball State
Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore (right) is punched in the face by Bob Barker in the movie
Speaking to the Indianapolis Star in 2022, he said: ‘Sometimes, when I first introduce myself, they will look at me funny. But if my golf bag is there and has my name on it, that will kind of help a little bit. But it never fails.
‘At some point they will ask me, “Is that your real name?” or “How did you get that name?” Something along those lines.’
Gilmore was born Landon but began to go by the nickname ‘Happy’ when he was six years old and started to play golf, according to TODAY.
He gained notoriety back in 2022 when he tried to qualify for the US Open at a qualifying event, ultimately falling short.
Sandler’s legendary character plays golf in a scene from the 1996 blockbuster comedy
Sandler even took to Twitter and revealed he was rooting for the real-life Gilmore
He is named after the title character of the Sandler movie, in which a rejected hockey player-turned-golfer tries to earn enough money to stop his grandmother being kicked out of her house.
In the movie, he has an impressive golf swing and a foul mouth, and is most well-known for his run-up swing, which has been copied by many a player in the near-30 years since its release.
But can the real life player copy the movie character’s action? Of course he can. His Twitter bio, in fact, reads: ‘Yes I can do the Happy Gilmore swing!’
We look forward to seeing it out on the course.