PGA Tour pros had some fun with their caddies’ bibs at the Valspar Championship, but Will Zalatoris took things to another level with a clever nod to his upcoming movie role.
His caddie Joel Stock’s bib read “Gilmore’s Caddie” – a perfect setup for Zalatoris’s big reveal about his part in Happy Gilmore 2, coming this July.
“There’s a movie coming out July 25th that I may or may not be part of,” Zalatoris said with a grin. “I had a good giggle when they asked what I wanted on the caddie bib.”
He wasn’t the only one getting creative. Justin Thomas went with “Molly’s Dad,” while JT Poston chose “The Other JT” and Adam Hadwin picked “Jessica’s Husband.”
But Zalatoris’s connection to Happy Gilmore runs deeper than just a funny bib. He’s been compared to the original movie’s caddie since his college days back in 2015.
“I won the college showcase at what’s now the Genesis Invitational,” he explained. “I was a typical college kid who hadn’t gotten a haircut in like five or six months. Golf Channel posted my photo, and someone made the comparison. It just took off from there.”
The resemblance was so striking that it eventually led to his casting in the sequel.
“I’ve never taken a drama class in my life,” Zalatoris admitted. “They basically said ‘act like a moron as much as you possibly can’ and I said, ‘Well, that’s pretty easy for me!'”
He’s watched the original film countless times, especially while preparing for his role. “If you think my acting is terrible, well, I’m not an actor, so that’s fine,” he laughed.
Working with Adam Sandler’s team was eye-opening for the golf pro. “They’ve been together literally for 35 years,” he said. “They’re on such the same wavelength that they can just look at each other and know what they’re thinking.”
For Zalatoris, it was a surreal experience. “I had to pinch myself when we did filming,” he said. “It was pretty cool.”
The movie hits theaters July 25, and golf fans can’t wait to see how this PGA Tour star handles his big screen debut.
