Rob Gronkowski might’ve been a tight end once upon a time, but he’s practically an influencer now. After all, the man managed to influence Kay Adams into watching Happy Gilmore and now she has an “irrational fear” of something going wrong on the golf course.
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Ever since its release in 1996, Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore — about a down-on-his-luck failed ice hockey player who takes to golf in an attempt to gather enough money to stop the foreclosure of his grandmother’s house — has developed a cult-like following across the United States. With a long-awaited sequel set to release on July 25 this year, the fanbase can’t wait for the return of Sandler’s iconic hockey-stick-swinging antics. And no one’s more excited than Gronk.
A member of the cult himself, the former Patriots TE has done everything in his power to spread the film’s influence. While caddying at his first-ever professional golf event, the four-time Super Bowl champion joined Kay Adams of the Up & Adams Show to discuss his time on the course. Gronk confessed he wasn’t entirely sure what was going on around him.
“Happy Gilmore is my favorite movie. So I’m just going to take all the tips that I’ve learned from that movie, so when we get to the green, I’m going to whip out a hockey stick. We’ll putt with the hockey stick,” admitted Gronk.
Adams was bummed with Gronkowski’s lack of experience on a professional golf course. She took it as a sign that the Happy Gilmore fan is not part of the film’s sequel. Golf course, after all, was the setting for one of the most celebrated scenes in the original movie.
Adams revealed to Gronkowski that his constant stream of references forced her to finally watch the film. And since then, she has been afraid of something going wrong at the golf course.
“You’re the reason that I watched Happy Gilmore. I had never seen it and you kept bringing it up on the show… You inspired me because I couldn’t understand the jokes, and now I have an irrational fear of alligators on the golf course,” Adams told Gronk.
The alligator scene from Happy Gilmore when the alligator is accused of biting off Carl Weathers’ hand and wrestling Adam Sandler for the golf ball is one of the most iconic moments in the film.
Last year, the former tight end shared the experiences he had with Weathers, one of the film’s stars, after the actor’s passing in February 2024. In a previous interview with Adams, Gronkowski also admitted that he would be willing to part ways with one of his Super Bowl rings if it meant securing an appearance in the film’s sequel.
Meanwhile, upon being asked who is the best golfer that he has played alongside, the former Buccaneers tight end answered,
“Tiger Woods… It was unbelievable how consistent he was. I understood how professional golfers are the best, but then, once I truly saw him golf, I understood why he was the best and is the best… It was incredible… He could hit the 3-iron like a driver.”
There is no doubt Gronkowski is enjoying his retirement. From professional golf tournaments to the upcoming premiere of his favorite film’s sequel, there should be more than enough events to keep the future Hall of Famer preoccupied for the remainder of the year.
Set to release on Netflix, the highly anticipated film will feature an array of TOUR pros alongside some of the NFL’s most recognizable faces, such as Travis Kelce. Although, given the sheer fandom that he has for the original, opting for Kelce over Gronkowski could prove to be a bit of a misstep on behalf of the casting director.
