Very few people have had a better life than Bob Barker. The quintessential game show host became a US daytime (and sick from school) staple for 35 years while also being a committed animal rights activist. He passed away on Saturday at 99 years old peacefully at his home of natural causes.

Of course, Barker had one of the most celebrated cameos in film history with Happy Gilmore, in which he went toe-to-toe comedy-wise and fisticuffs-wise with Adam Sandler. The celebrity pro-am fight scene is one of the most quoted and praised sequences from Sandler’s heralded filmography, and it never would’ve worked without Barker delightfully playing the heel.

'The Price is Right' Host Bob Barker Dead at 99 https://t.co/MXLUvrJl4U

— TMZ (@TMZ) August 26, 2023

But here’s the best part: Before joining the movie, Barker made sure that he would win the fight against Sandler before taking the role. “Someone from his office approached me and said that they wanted to do this fight scene in this picture,” Barker recalled in a CBS interview. “I said: ‘Well, who wins the fight?’ And they said: ‘You! You win the fight.’ I said ‘I’ll do the picture.’”

Excited to beat up Sandler, Bob Barker even insisted that he do his own stunts. “‘I said: ‘Wait a minute … I know how to fight.’ I said: ‘I want to do the fight scenes. I want to win the fight.’”

The fight wasn’t just a hit at the time but has become an iconic comedy moment from the late 20th century. It allowed Barker to show a different side to himself and play into the nice guy character that he had fostered as a host, according to Happy Gilmore director Dennis Dugan.

“He was completely game for it, he got the joke,” Dugan told Cracked. “But he was totally up for it. Also, he’d studied martial arts as a hobby forever, so, even though he was about 70, he really could kick ass.”

“We initially wrote it for Ed McMahon,” Sandler told Collider earlier this year. “Ed McMahon said he was busy and we were like, imagine if Bob Barker did it, he’ll never do it. Next thing you know, Bob Barker, whose neighbor was Chuck Norris at the time, and Chuck and Bob used to spar, and Bob was like, ‘Yeah, if I get to fight, if I get to throw punches, I’m doing it.’”

The post A look back at Bob Barker’s one demand for his iconic ‘Happy Gilmore’ cameo appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

On Friday, he got the ultimate validation when Gilmore announced that he had committed to play on the men’s golf team at Ball State.

It gets better. Who was among the first to congratulate him? The original “Happy,” actor Adam Sandler, who tweeted, “Go get em Happy. Pulling for you.”

Go get em Happy. Pulling for you. https://t.co/4o4LOoAWDN

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) June 23, 2023

He also got a shout-out from Shooter McGavin, aka actor Christopher McDonald:

Congrats but I tell you what, you’d be something in one of those long drive contests. Hell, you’d probably make a very good living. Traveling around, hustling at driving ranges. Just a thought. https://t.co/TzbPTQI39T

— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) June 23, 2023

The real-life Happy, a rising senior at the Bloomington South High School, is ranked 481st in the Golfweek Boys Junior Rankings. He has played on the US Kids Tour events, as well as competing in the Hurricane National Championships, where he was named the Player of the Year in 2020.

Of embracing the whimsical name, Landon Gilmore told the Indianapolis Star: “I don’t think it adds any pressure to me. But I do know that whatever I do is going to be seen. Especially as far as leaderboards when people are scrolling down and see ‘Happy Gilmore’ they are going to look at it, obviously. So, I do know that, but I don’t let it get in my head or that I have to play good because of it. I just go out and do my thing.”

Good luck with that, kid.

The post Happy Gilmore commits to college and rightfully gets a shout-out from Adam Sandler appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Woods remains sidelined as he rehabs from a February car crash, but on Monday TaylorMade released a video of its tour staff trying to replicate the “Happy Gilmore” swing in honour of the film’s 25th anniversary this year. (The video was taped before Woods’ accident.)

Judging by the clip below, while it’s not a dead-on impersonation of the hockey-player-turned-hacker swing made famous by Adam Sandler, Woods’ attempt manages to cross the 300-yard barrier:

While we’re here, a special shoutout to Rory McIlroy. Although the four-time major winner hit a foul ball to right field and followed up by taking out the launch monitor, his swing was pretty damn close to the original Happy Gilmore move.

Let that be a lesson to all the kids at home. If Rory freakin’ McIlroy can’t pull off a successful Happy swing, perhaps you shouldn’t try it at the range, either.

The post Watch Tiger Woods bomb a “Happy Gilmore” drive while Rory McIlroy’s attempt takes out a launch monitor appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

And if you’re one of the 10 best golfers in the world, even better. It should be no surprise that Tyrrell Hatton can do something on a golf course that a comedic actor can do, but still, this is really impressive:

"It’s all in the hips"@ExtraButter x @adidasGolf #happygilmore25 pic.twitter.com/q40hCpXz1z

— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) May 16, 2021

Love the cocky strut. And that ball was absolutely walloped. To the point Tyrrell might want to consider putting the swing in play for this week’s PGA Championship. Kiawah’s Ocean Course is a beast after all.

But Hatton (How about that outfit, by the way?) wasn’t finished with his ode to Happy. He even drained a putt using Sandler’s split-grip hockey-style:

pic.twitter.com/UFUbMJh9s5

— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) May 16, 2021

The rest of the field at Kiawah has no chance—especially if Hatton rocks that bucket hat.

The post Tyrrell Hatton might be better at the Happy Gilmore swing than Happy Gilmore himself appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

WE’RE BUYING

Korn Ferry Tour Championship: I’m not one of these golf purists who is going to tell you the KFT season finale was better than the Tour Championship, but it contained incredible drama in its own way, as usual. Watching guys go back and forth from having a job on the PGA Tour next season to being on the outs was riveting, and Doug Ghim provided the event’s lasting moment when he sunk this tester for par on 18 to graduate to the big leagues:

Intensity.
Passion.
Jubilation.@DougGhim is #TOURBound. pic.twitter.com/sz8tlOIkK6

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 2, 2019

What a fantastic reaction by Ghim, who was one of nine players to jump into the all-important top 25 of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals points list. Of course, there were others who wound up outside the bubble. But let’s stay positive here. Putting up with the end of summer is sad enough.

Tom Lewis: This 28-year-old Brit needed no such drama at Victoria National. The former can’t-miss prospect couldn’t miss all week, winning by five shots to earn his PGA Tour card for the first time. Even more impressive is this was Lewis’ first start on the Korn Ferry Tour this season. And we don’t just mean since the Web.com Tour switched to being called the Korn Ferry Tour. No, this dude just carpetbagged his way to a PGA Tour card.

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

But good for him. And now he has the “good problem” of choosing whether to play predominantly on the European Tour or PGA Tour next season. Just a gue$$, but Lewi$ will play more in the U$A.

Sebastian Soderberg: The 28-year-old Swede (It was a good week to be 28) won a five-man playoff at the Omega European Masters that included Rory McIlroy. Not a bad way to pick up his first European Tour title.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Kudos to Rory as well for not just showing up and going through the motions for a sponsor following his Tour Championship/FedEx Cup triumph. Or maybe he was just going through the motions, but he’s that good.

Lucky bounces: Especially when you haven’t won in nearly five years. Wes Short Jr. looked like he’d come up short again when his final approach shot came up short, but he used the rocks in the hazard to his advantage (Savvy!) and wound up two-putting for birdie and the win at the Shaw Charity Classic.

Can’t make this stuff up …

Wes Short Jr.’s second shot into the par-5 18th looked like it was heading into the hazard.

Thanks to the help of a rock, the ball landed on the green and Wes went on to make birdie for the @ShawClassic win. pic.twitter.com/KAQY6KDobi

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 2, 2019

“Good, clean living!” as my friend Roks used to say.

WE’RE SELLING

(My) unlucky weather: For important events, that is. Three weeks after playing only three holes in my first PGA Tour Pro-Am, I played a total of four holes in the only member-guest I was invited to this year. Womp-womp. This time, I managed to show up to lovely Aspetuck Valley Country Club on the one part of the one day that it stormed amid two weeks of perfectly glorious weather. At least it wasn’t raining (torrentially) when we took our group photo. That happened seconds later.

Thanks to my buddy Al for the look, but seriously, everyone, do NOT invite me to any important golf function going forward.

Paragliding: We’ve seen people doing this at places like Torrey Pines, but in Switzerland, Rory McIlroy had to back away from a shot because he was worried about hitting them:

Wait, a Paraglider? ?

Everyone wanted to see Rory McIlroy today… pic.twitter.com/7LhYX3X9t8

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 29, 2019

How rude! Also, this looks dangerous! You couldn’t pay me Rory McIlroy FedEx Cup money to go up on one of those.

Brandel vs. Bob: Brooks Koepka’s dad, Bob, went after Brandel Chamblee on Twitter over the weekend. I love seeing someone stick up for his sons, and the back-and-forth was entertaining, but it was also a bit silly considering how much crow Chamblee has eaten regarding his Koepka commentary:

They say the NBA offseason has become more interesting than the season. If this is how golf’s offseason is about to go, sign me the hell up.

Brooksy’s dad taking runs at Brandel. America’s Guest catching multiple strays. Let’s light this candle and really live under par in Q4! pic.twitter.com/fquHoMcJRP

— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) September 3, 2019

Not that I’m complaining. Keep this Twitter beef going, guys!

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—There will be another five-man playoff on the European Tour: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds
—Tiger will win another major: 3-to-1 odds (Actual odds. Um … tempting.)
—I will never go paragliding: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Tiger and mini-Tiger watching Rafael Nadal (Sorry, Roger) at the U.S. Open:

Like father, like son. ?@TigerWoods and his family attended the men's singles match between Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic at the U.S. Open on Monday. pic.twitter.com/mREsyxTPir

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 3, 2019

So cute. Tiger also unleashed a pretty ferocious standing fist-pump and I’ve never felt more excited watching tennis:

Game recognizing game. ?pic.twitter.com/xqLFNnFhDi

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 3, 2019

Good to see. That surgically repaired knee must be feeling better.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (TOUR PRO DIVISION)

As my colleague, Chris Powers, so eloquently put it, “Eddie Pepperell can’t stop, won’t stop roasting Bryson DeChambeau for slow play.”

We don't deserve Eddie Pepperell. pic.twitter.com/DurrrQJEFz

— Chris Chaney (@Wrong_Fairway) August 30, 2019

Good stuff, Eddie. Golf needs more mid-round interviews.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (NON-TOUR PRO DIVISION)

Introducing Silvia Rosenberger. She’s from Germany and she can putt the freaking lights out. At last week’s World Amateur Handicap Championship, Rosenberger won a $5 putting contest and got one crack from 60 feet for $25,000. You can guess what happened:

ICYMI: Epic moment at the Myrtle Beach World Am last night when this German golfer casually drains a 100 footer to win $25,000!

How much beer do you think she had to buy everyone after???#MBWorldAm #MyrtleBeachGolf pic.twitter.com/v0a0zthMmv

— Myrtle Beach Golf (@MyrtleBeachGolf) August 31, 2019

Well done, Silvia.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“To have it all come down to one putt is pretty surreal. It’s one of those things where if you make the putt, it does wonders for you, and if you miss it, it could go the opposite way. Now that I’ve finally made the putt, it feels like I have the opportunity to make some noise on the big tour and I’m just really, really excited.” —Doug Ghim after earning his PGA Tour card on the 18th at Victoria National on Monday.

Good to hear, Doug. Because you only get one week off before the PGA Tour season starts.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITIES PLAYING GOLF

When Justin Timberlake needs a bunker lesson, he goes to one of the best: Rory McIlroy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rFfrRn9U_/?utm_source=ig_embed

And how about the Green Bay Packers dressing up as “Happy Gilmore” characters?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1uCidahZV0/?utm_source=ig_embed

Impressive. But … where the heck is Shooter?!

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

Phil had Justin Thomas on an episode of “Phireside with Phil” to tell another great story about Phil (although, we’re still waiting for that second part … ):

One of my favorite people on Tour …

My man JT (@JustinThomas34) joins me for a 2-part series to tell stories when we first played together. #PhiresideWithPhil pic.twitter.com/e0OhAcVYow

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 29, 2019

And Mickelson reminded everyone how great his calves are:

Let us not forget. #CalvesLikeAdonis pic.twitter.com/raP1uIUB6I

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 27, 2019

Running on the beach while holding weights is going to be featured prominently in his “Body By Phil” fitness series.

THIS AND THAT

It looks like Patrick Reed has a sweet new ride:

Great to be back in Hamburg, Germany for the Porsche European Open! Before I left, I broke in my commemorative Masters GT2RS! Excited to play the next three events on the @EuropeanTour. #PEO @KLMOpen, @BMWPGA #1of1 pic.twitter.com/SP5XGIzJcb

— Patrick Reed (@PReedGolf) September 3, 2019

It’s good to be a Masters champ. … Congrats to Hannah Green for winning her second LPGA title by one shot over Monday qualifier Yealimi Noh. Congrats to the 18-year-old Noh for even coming close. She’ll be back. … Shout-out to Golf Digest Executive Producer of Video Christian Iooss, who broke his leg in a surfing accident over the weekend. Yet another reminder of why you should retire from all sports and activities other than golf once you turn 25. Feel better, Iooss. … And finally, my daughter is convinced I’m Tim Robbins/Andy Dufresne from “The Shawshank Redemption”:

My daughter is convinced I’m @TimRobbins1 as Andy Dufresne (?), so, yeah, it’s a great day… pic.twitter.com/7tOSsyjFPC

— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) August 29, 2019

And I don’t plan on correcting her anytime soon! Also, Tim Robbins liked this tweet. Man, I love Twitter.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

What’s the best movie of all time (Other than Shawshank)?
Does Silvia lose her amateur status after winning the $25K in the putting contest?
How do you say “Quid pro quo” in German?

The post Tiger Woods roots for Rafael Nadal, Brooks Koepka’s dad goes after Brandel Chamblee, and the luckiest bounce of 2019 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

How about giving Happy Gilmore’s swing the Peter Kostis treatment? The hockey-player-turned-golfer swing has been replicated by so many golfers around the world since the Adam Sandler movie was released in 1996. So much has already been done with Happy Gilmore’s swing, with actual Sports Science videos devoted to the character’s swing, and even tour pros trying to replicate the swing (shoutout, John Peterson, for doing it in competition).

But someone had the hilarious idea to dub Kostis’ analysis of another tour pro, including with lines for angles and swing planes, and added it over Gilmore’s swing. The result had us cracking up, and we’re pretty sure any fan of Happy Gilmore will agree with us.

https://www.facebook.com/usagapparel/videos/1950834884940493/

The best part about this video was how well synced the swing video was to Kostis’ analysis. It definitely sounded like it could’ve applied to Happy Gilmore’s swing, and the yellow lines are drawn pretty perfectly on the video.

We’re pretty sure this was footage of Kostis’ analysis of Bubba Watson’s swing from a previous telecast. Regardless, a well-done job by all. And we bet Kostis would get a kick out of this if he saw it.

Note to CBS producers: It’d be hilarious to have Kostis do an actual swing analysis of Happy Gilmore some time in the future. Maybe for the 25th anniversary of Happy Gilmore? Eh? We’ll take our royalty check in the mail when they execute this fantastic idea.

The post Peter Kostis breaking down Happy Gilmore’s swing in slow motion using the Konica Minolta camera is the next-level analysis we need appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

On Saturday night, McGavin McDonald was arrested for drunk driving in the Lake Arrowhead area of Los Angeles, according to a report from TMZ, who obtained his all-time mugshot.

The 62-year-old actor reportedly lost control of his Porsche and crashed into a gas meter at around 9 p.m. local time. Before cops took him into custody, an eyewitness says McDonald told them he appeared in “Happy Gilmore.”

Believe it or not, L.A.’s finest were not amused, and took McDonald to a local jail to sober up before he can be released without bail. Had he won the Tour Championship, something tells us things would have gone a little differently.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time McDonald has been arrested for drunk driving. In 2013, TMZ reported he was nabbed for driving while intoxicated. Here’s hoping Shooter learns his lesson this time and doesn’t really hurt himself.

The post Shooter McGavin actor gets arrested for DUI, tells cops he was in Happy Gilmore appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.