The upcoming release of Happy Gilmore 2 might achieve what golf’s top officials have struggled with for years: bringing together players from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Scheduled to premiere on Netflix on July 25, the movie will arrive just after The Open Championship concludes at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, an event where athletes from both tours once again compete on the same course.
The Open Championship remains one of the few occasions during the golf season when players from the rival PGA Tour and LIV Golf face off over 72 holes. Since the split of professional golf circuits in 2022, such moments of unity have been rare, but the film will spotlight this coming-together through a variety of celebrity cameos. It will feature PGA Tour stars like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, and Will Zalatoris, alongside LIV’s prominent players Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
Will Zalatoris Highlights Adam Sandler’s Unique Ability to Bring Golfers Together
Will Zalatoris recently shared that Adam Sandler may be uniquely positioned to gather top golfers from both tours in a way that competition alone has not.
“I think the part of it that’s really good is we Have guys from LIV, guys from the PGA Tour, and it’s the top of the top and it just takes away that level of BS,”
Zalatoris said on the Vanity Index podcast.
Adam is the one guy honestly who could get us back in a room. Like, kind of, in all honesty, if you were to just say, like, ‘Hey, I want to get you 12 guys in a room to sit in a room, I can guarantee you at least two guys would be like, ‘Nah, I’m good,’ but Adam’s one of the few guys on the planet that can get all of us hanging out together and make a fun movie.
Current Status of PGA Tour and LIV Golf Talks Remain Unresolved
Despite the hope symbolized by the movie, formal negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf appear stalled. The pivotal agreement announced in June 2025 between the Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund now seems distant as no immediate unification deal has materialized.
There have been changes in leadership that could potentially influence future discussions. The PGA Tour recently named Brian Rolapp as its new CEO, signaling a transition away from longtime commissioner Jay Monahan. Meanwhile, LIV Golf appointed Scott O’Neil as CEO earlier this year, replacing Greg Norman as part of its restructuring.
Whether these leadership shifts will revive efforts to reconcile remains uncertain. Zalatoris emphasized that the players themselves do not hold grudges despite the divided state of the sport, especially in social settings fostered by neutral figures like Sandler.
“It’s not like there’s any animosity between us all, it’s honestly just this is the world of golf we’ve been in for the last three years, and this is what it took, just stating the facts,”
Zalatoris reflected on the podcast.
The Potential Impact of Unified Appearances in Film and Sport
Happy Gilmore 2 may serve as a symbolic bridge during a time when formal cooperation remains elusive, by showcasing PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars sharing screen time and camaraderie. This reunion of top talent could soften divisions for fans and players alike, potentially nurturing goodwill outside competitive arenas.
With PGA Tour and LIV players coming together for a widely distributed movie, audiences might witness a different side of professional golf’s fractured landscape — one where personalities and playful interactions overshadow rivalry. This could set the stage for future discussions about reconciliation on the course, even as official negotiations remain at a standstill.
As the July release approaches, golf enthusiasts worldwide will be watching both the sport and the screen, hopeful that Adam Sandler’s role in bringing golfers together might inspire the real-world unification that has so far been out of reach.