Featured Image Credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo / Facebook / Happy Gilmore
Topics: Film and TV, Adam Sandler, Sport, Twitter, Good News
Emma Rosemurgey
Topics: Film and TV, Adam Sandler, Sport, Twitter, Good News
In a bizarre moment of art meeting life, Adam Sandler has pledged his support to the real-life Happy Gilmore.
Yep, you read that right, there is a real-life Happy Gilmore, and he's a rising star in the world of golf - naturally.
The full circle moment came after young golfer Gilmore took to Twitter to announce his commitment to the Ball State golf programme.
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"I am very excited to announce that I have committed to continue my academic and golf career at Ball State University," he wrote.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity Coach Fleck has given me! I would like to thank my family, my friends and coaches who push me every day."
After seeing the post, Adam Sandler, who obviously played Happy Gilmore in the iconic 1996 comedy, took to Twitter to cheer on the teen, writing: "Go get 'em Happy. Pulling for you."
The golfer replied: "My life is complete."
Sandler's followers were equally impressed by the exchange, with one replying: "They’re going to have to start televising college golf."
Another asked: "Wait, is this real?!" Oh, it's very real..."
Although Happy's birth name is actually Landon, he has been going by the film moniker since the age of six, when he first began competing in golfing tournaments.
Speaking to the Indianapolis Star last year, he explained: "Sometimes, when I first introduce myself, they will look at me funny. But if my golf bag is there and has my name on it, that will kind of help a little bit. But it never fails.
"At some point they will ask me, 'Is that your real name?' or 'how did you get that name?' Something along those lines."
By the age of around 13, his family and friends were exclusively calling him Happy, and the name has stuck ever since.
Fortunately, the name is very fitting, as the teen revealed he can actually do the iconic swing performed by Sandler's character in the film - it might just take a couple of goes.
"I haven’t done it for a while so I’m probably a little bit rusty," he said. "But just give me a couple of balls, and I can usually make pretty good contact."
We'll be looking forward to seeing where Happy's golfing career takes him from here. Perhaps they'll make a movie about it one day...