Nobody loves Happy Gilmore more than Will Zalatoris! So much so that the 28-year-old has a dialogue from the movie carved on his wedge and the story behind it relates to the uncanny resemblance Zalatoris has to Happy Gilmore’s caddie. Not the one who helped him during the tournament but a young guy who was hired at Waterbury.

Three years ago, Zalatoris was very close to winning his first major, but Hideki Matsuyama took that green jacket. However, the then-24-year-old received a congratulatory message from none other than Happy Gilmore himself! Adam Sandler wished the PGA Tour to have fun, as he addressed him as his caddie from the movie. In a recent interview with the USGA posted on Instagram, Zalatoris was seen talking about the same, “It’s pretty funny, I have had like a bunch of doppelgangers. One of them being Happy Gilmore’s caddie.”

Furthermore, Zalatoris found it hilarious that Sandler got his number and texted him. The uncanny resemblance between Sandler’s on-screen caddie and Zalatoris has caused many people to quote the infamous dialogue from the movie to the pro on the golf course, “Out on the golf course too, I’ll get some guy going ‘Where you going with these clubs, punk.'” where Gilmore mistakes his caddie for a thief. It’s clear Zalatoris enjoys the comparison, as he has stamped his wedge with, ‘But Mr. Gilmore I’m your caddie.’

If you thought that the blonde-haired boy was Zalatoris’s only doppelganger, then you are wrong! The San Francisco native has been confused for Owen Wilson in the past. Mr. Gilmore and Zalatoris’s relationship did not stop there; just as the best golfer-caddie duo works, Gilmore was there for Zalatoris’s first win. Well, kind of.

Will Zalatoris gets his big win and a happy note

The uncanny acquaintance between Adam Sandlers and Will Zalaoris started out of the blue and, hopefully, has stayed till now. At least until 2022, before the 28-year-old took his long hiatus, the two were in touch. That same year, Zalatoris was finding his feet in the realm of professional golf and opened his PGA Tour win tally with his victory at the St. Jude Championship, marking his maiden win on the Tour.

He won in a playoff against Sepp Straka and as he missed the third playoff hole, Zalatoris emerged victorious in front of thousands cheering for him at TPC Southwind. Even Adam Sandler could not hold back and congratulated his caddie on X. He posted the picture of Zalatoris with the St. Jude Championship trophy and his character winning the TOUR Championship in Happy Gilmore and said, “Congrats Will! I’m happy for you! Happy’s happy for you! Enjoy it all!” 

Regardless, the 1-time PGA Tour winner does not mind having doppelgangers and has fun with it. As Happy Gilmore 2 is in the works, the PGA Tour pro may get asked to actually be a caddie!