Rory McIlroy, the renowned golfer, found himself in the spotlight this summer as part of the cast of Happy Gilmore 2, yet he has not yet seen the film. “I haven’t even watched the movie yet, because I don’t want to see myself trying to act,” McIlroy shared during an appearance on The Running Interview Show with Kate Mackz on August 21. He expressed intentions to view it soon, acknowledging the unique experience it provided.
In discussing his time on set, McIlroy had high praise for Adam Sandler, who took on multiple roles as writer, producer, and star of the sequel to the beloved 1996 classic. “Adam Sandler is the best, he’s such a nice guy,” he remarked. “He made us feel so comfortable but I am not going to give up my day job anytime soon.” The golfer reflected on the privilege of working alongside top talents, whether in acting or sports.
Before the film's release on July 25, Sandler publicly congratulated McIlroy for his victory at the 2025 Masters, which completed his career Grand Slam. “Way to gooooo grand slammmer!!! We all love you buddy!!! Love, Happy,” Sandler posted on X in April, showcasing their camaraderie.
McIlroy's excitement about joining the cast stemmed from his long-standing admiration for the original Happy Gilmore film. “Happy Gilmore was the golf movie for me growing up,” he stated during a May segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “I can recite pretty much every line. So the fact that I got the opportunity to do that was awesome.”
He also acknowledged Sandler's multifaceted role during production. “I felt like Happy Gilmore 2 for him was like a pro-am,” McIlroy noted. “He was producing, he was directing, he was acting. He was trying to coach us through what to do. It was a full-time job for him, but he’s a true pro.”
In Happy Gilmore 2, McIlroy portrays a fictionalized version of himself competing in the U.S. Bank Tour Championship before teaming up with Happy (Sandler) to take on the Maxi Golf league. The film features appearances from several notable golfers including John Daly, Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, and Corey Pavin.
Currently, Happy Gilmore 2 is available for streaming on Netflix.
