Happy Gilmore’s long-awaited return, a PGA Tour ‘monster’ resurfaces, and Donald Trump’s controversial caddie video

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we were pleasantly surprised by “Happy Gilmore 2.” For one thing, that has to be a record of time between an original and a sequel. “Inside Out 2” coming out 10 years after “Inside Out 1” seemed crazy, but we’re talking almost three decades here. Tiger Woods hadn’t even turned pro when Happy Gilmore made his tournament debut at the Waterbury Open! And yet, after all these years, Adam Sandler found a way to recapture at least some of the magic, thanks to what has to be another record for the most cameos in a movie ever.

I don’t think “Happy Gilmore 2” is going to end golf’s Oscar drought, but I do think it’s going to be a huge hit for Netflix. So, sit back, grab some popcorn and let’s talk about this new film and everything else going on in the world of golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Lottie Woad: As if it wasn’t apparent already, women’s golf has its newest star in the 21-year-old Brit. After winning the Irish Open and nearly winning the Evian Championship as an amateur, Woad won her pro debut on the LPGA Tour at the Scottish Open.

How rare is this? Well, when Rose Zhang did it in 2023 she was the first to pull off the trick in 72 years. So, yeah, Woad is special. Or, put another way, we’re expecting a LOT from Lottie. In any event, nice job by her turning pro so she wouldn’t have to keep turning down these big checks. And if they ever make a “Happy Gilmore 3,” she should probably be in it. Of course, if they want anyone from the original cast to be in the movie, they probably shouldn’t wait another three decades to make it.

Kurt Kitayama: Look out for QUADZILLA! The 32-year-old ended a two-year-plus winless drought in emphatic fashion at the 3M Open. After struggling to make the cut in Minnesota, Kitayama torched TPC Twin Cities for 20 birdies (!) over the weekend to earn his second career PGA Tour title:

According to stats guru Justin Ray, Kitayama is the first PGA Tour winner to make 20 birdies over the final two rounds in at least 40 years. It was tough to watch as someone who had bet on Jake Knapp, but it was impressive.

Congrats, Kurt.

Johnny Keefer: And congrats to this young man who is quickly climbing the ranks. Since turning pro out of Baylor a year ago, Keefer has played in 26 events across the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas, finishing in the top five in half of those starts. On Sunday, he earned his second KFT victory of the season to wrap up his PGA Tour card for next season.

So, yeah, keep an eye on this guy. Although, somehow, he still doesn’t have a Wikipedia page!

Tour pros as actors: This was a true who’s who of golf, from legends like Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino (But where was Tiger?) to current stars like Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka (The latter two LIV stars had to grasp the irony that they were playing for “the tour” against the new rival MAXI League . . . right?) Our Shane Ryan did a nice job of ranking all the golfer cameos from the movie, but overall, these guys (and gals) were good. Really good. If we had to highlight a few, we’d start with Scottie Scheffler, the Champion Golfer of the Year, who also might be the cameo actor of the year.

Then there’s Will Zalatoris, Xander Schauffele (needed more of him), and John Daly, who appeared throughout the movie and whose name was listed sixth in the credits. And he was hysterical. There are also rumors resurfacing that Jonah Hill is going to play JD in an upcoming biopic. So between that, “Happy Gilmore 2” and Owen Wilson’s “Stick,” golf is really having a moment, huh?

WE’RE SELLING

Akshay Bhatia’s season: It looked like the young lefty was back on track as he took a share of the 54-hole lead at TPC Twin Cities after what he calls a “demoralizing” season. But then he shot a Sunday 75 to tumble out of the top 25.

Bhatia will still easily qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, but after contending at the Players Championship, he’s gone 13 consecutive starts without a top 20. And for a player of his talent, just making the FedEx Cup Playoffs obviously isn’t the goal. On the bright side, he’s still only 23. In other words, he was born six years after the original “Happy Gilmore” came out.

Victor Dubuisson disappearing: Remember this enigmatic Frenchman? Well, he retired way too soon and that’s a shame for golf fans. But what wouldn’t be a shame is if he produced his own sequel, which started with a random start in an Alps Tour event. And a playoff victory!

But the script gets even wilder because he declined to accept the first-place check. You really never know what you’re going to get with this guy. He’s a real wildcard. And that’s why we hope he’ll get back on the pro golf scene more.

Getting banned from public golf: Such is the situation for a Florida man named Jason Hughes, who was granted bond on an aggravated battery charge by a judge on the condition that he wouldn’t go to a public golf course? Why? Because the last time he went to one, he beat up a golfer in the group in front of him for playing slowly. Here's a quick PSA: Don’t play slow! But, also, don’t beat up people who are playing slow! Two wrongs don’t make a right.

John Daly’s “Happy place” closing: It was a triumphant performance by Daly in “Happy Gilmore 2,” but it wasn’t all good news for the two-time major champ last week. Daly’s “Happy place,” the Augusta Hooters where he’s hawked merch and mingled with fans for nearly 30 years, has been permanently closed.

It’s the end of an era. I’m surprised Augusta National hasn’t bought it and turned the location into more fan parking yet. Rumor has it, that place brings in waitresses from around the country for a bikini contest that week. Again, that’s a rumor. Not that I would know about it actually happening. Nope. Anyway, my condolences to all those who work there and for Daly, who is going to need to find a new place to set up shop.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour regular season concludes with the Wyndham Championship, AKA that one with arguably the most drama with guys fighting to make the playoffs and keep their tour cards. It’s also the place where Matt Kuchar made a bunch of people come back on Monday last year so he could finish his final hole. Which was almost as wild as any villainous plot in “Happy Gilmore 2.” And the LPGA has its fifth and final major of the season with the AIG Women’s Open, where Lottie Woad is the favorite (!) over World No. 1 Nelly Korda. And, honestly, that makes total sense right now.

Random tournament fact: The Women’s Open was called the Women’s British Open from its inception in 1976 all the way until 2020 when they decided to get on the same page as the Open Championship. More proof that referring to either as the British Open is fine!

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—”Happy Gilmore 2” will be nominated for Best Picture: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Jake Knapp will win this week: 40-to-1 odds (Again)

—Jake Knapp will break my heart again this week: LOCK

TWEET(S) OF THE WEEK

Chris Gotterup roasted . . . Golf Digest for picking against him at the 3M Open after he recorded a third consecutive top 10:

Fair play, Chris. And that feistiness is another reason for Keegan Bradley to put him on Team USA for the Ryder Cup.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Forget about Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler can really play some golf! And he showed off his skills with his movie co-star Bryson DeChambeau on Bryson’s latest “Break 50” video. The whole thing is worth watching, but we loved this savage Sandman moment in particular:

What a talent. He really gave it a nice tap, tap, taperoo there.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (ARCHIVE DIVISION)

A throwback to when John Peterson pulled off the Happy Gilmore swing in a PGA Tour event:

Would love to see someone try it at the actual Tour Championship this year.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (NON-HAPPY GILMORE DIVISION)

Zac Blair going “undercover” to get a club fitting at a Minnesota Golf Galaxy after getting into the 3M Open on the eve of the tournament was great content. He was the perfect guy to do this because as one of the shortest and shortest-hitting PGA Tour pros, Zac will be the first to tell you he doesn’t scream pro athlete. And his fitter didn’t think so either, saying at one point, he thought he could beat him:

Incredible stuff. And it led to some good stuff as well with Zac raising some money for Youth on Course and golf fans getting to know more about his fitter, Nic Urban, an assistant golf pro and the 2024 Michigan Adaptive Golf Championship winner. Anyway, I’d love to see Zac make a series of these “undercover” videos. Even better, he could start hustling local pros.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

I thought Jake Knapp was definitely winning when his girlfriend posted this on Twitter ahead of the third round:

Sadly, I was wrong. But the eventual winner, Kurt Kitayama, had some nice moments with his older brother, Danny, on the bag:

Although, it’s kind of crazy they waited this long to join forces. Bandon Dunes posted this about their longtime caddie:

Bandon caddies must be BANKING. Speaking of caddies . . .

THIS WEEK IN HELPING YOUR BOSS OUT

Look, I try to be fair and balanced here. And there are some videos of President Donald Trump flushing some tee shots. Like this one:

But then there are also a handful of videos from Trump’s trip to Scotland that confirm decades of stories that when it comes to the rules of golf, he plays fast and loose. Like this one of his caddie slyly tossing a ball in play for him to hit:

If the caddie wasn’t trying to hide it, this wouldn’t be so blatant. And it wouldn’t have gone as viral as it did. Anyway, the guy can still hit it, especially for a guy who is almost 80! But I find it hard to believe that he would actually still break 80 if he played everything out. Both things can be true!

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS (NON-HAPPY GILMORE DIVISION)

Congrats to U.S. Men’s National soccer team player Antonee Robinson making his first hole-in-one… and having it be an albatross!

And congrats to New York Islanders star Mat Barzal on making not one, but TWO holes-in-one in the same week:

And then there was Zac Efron and his brother going viral for playing golf shirtless:

Golf, so hot right now. Golf.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It’s on the yacht.” —Rory McIlroy when asked where his green jacket was while partying at a beach club in Saint-Tropez.

What a legend.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Brett White on shooting a 59 to win on the PGA Tour Americas, thanks to this 60-footer on the last hole:

Speaking of holing long putts on the 72nd hole . . . L.A.B. Golf announced a majority share in their putter company has been bought by a private equity company for $200 million about a month after J.J. Spaun won the U.S. Open using one of their putters. Talk about cashing in quick. . . . Oak Hill has been announced as the site of the 2037 U.S. Women’s Open. Which, just gives me another reason to remind everyone of the hole-in-one I made there last year. . . . And, finally, as I creep deeper into my 40s, my idea of being “adventurous” is trying out different Costco food courts:

Even though they're pretty much all the same.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Will I still be talking about my hole-in-one in 2037? (Duh.)

Will the Costco churro ever come back?

Will a golf movie ever win an Oscar?