Nearly 30 years after the original Happy Gilmore debuted in February 1996, Adam Sandler returns as the foul‑mouthed, hockey‑driven golfer in Happy Gilmore 2, which premiered on July 25, exclusively on Netflix. The sequel re‑introduces Happy as a retired pro who steps back into the golf world to raise funds for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school tuition.
The film reunites much of the original cast–Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit, Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, Kevin Nealon, and Ben Stiller, among others, and adds high‑profile cameos from celebrities and athletes such as Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, Eminem, and several pro golfers like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau.
The Golf Legends Assemble
If the original film relied on loveable chaos, this sequel layers it with an avalanche of cameos from golfing icons. Golf Digest offered a “definitive ranking” of 22 pro golfers who appear in the movie, ranging from Keegan Bradley (Tier 1: “just sat there”) to Scheffler (Tier 13: a surprise standout) and DeChambeau (Tier 15 for the “single weirdest line”).
Others like Rickie Fowler, McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, and Will Zalatoris all had varied roles–some comedic, others more GLAD (golf‑legend authenticity delivered) than acting chops.
Hunter Mahan’s Role Behind the Scenes
Few fans expect a touring pro to double for a comedy lead, but Hunter Mahan, now 43 and retired from PGA Tour competition, was tapped as Sandler’s swing stand‑in. As Mahan himself posted on social media, this job reunited him with the Happy Gilmore swing, and delivered a behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of his transformation via hair, makeup, and costume work.
NBC Sports confirmed that Mahan executed many of the golfing shots onscreen, not Sandler–a practical decision to ensure cinematic polish and authenticity. With six PGA Tour wins and Ryder Cup experience, Mahan clearly had the swing chops to match the legend.
“When they called and said Happy Gilmore needs a golf swing double, I said say no more,” Mahan said in an Instagram post. “Honored to get to be a part of #HappyGilmore2 and witness @adamsandler ‘s comedic genius come to life firsthand!”
On top of all that, Mahan brought his young daughter Zoe to the film’s premiere and marveled at being part of the comedy world he’d long admired. The golfing community praised his performance, if you can call precise swing dubbing a performance. Fans were amazed at the seamlessness with which Sandler seemed to channel his younger self.
A Mixed Locker Room
Critics are divided. Decider slammed the sequel as light on substance and heavy on stale references, calling it “a cameo‑packed attempt at recapturing the charm of the original” that ultimately falls flat. That review suggests the nostalgia factor overshadows any deeper plot or innovation.
Conversely, other commentators like the Vogue writer celebrated Sandler’s signature comedic voice and the barrage of cameos, offering a stream‑of‑consciousness of observations tied to sport, pop culture, and golf tropes.
One viral tie‑in even featured Tiger Woods challenging McIlroy and others to replicate the original Happy swing. Woods executed the running drive flawlessly, while the others hilariously struggled–adding meta‑comedy fodder for fans of the sport.
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