It’s always a guaranteed “easter egg moment” when a celebrity makes a cameo in the most unexpected scene of a film or TV show. It’s up there with mind-bending plot twists and top-tier cinematography, making a watch unforgettable. For the golf-enthusiasts out there, these moments come rarely, but they’re definitely a lot of fun – watching some of the greats try out the acting gig, even if just for a short, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene. Have a read through our list and discover some of the best professional golfers’ movie and TV show cameos to look out for.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
An Adam Sandler classic – it’s a golf comedy film that follows the story of an ice hockey player switching lanes and taking up golf. He joins the PGA TOUR to earn some money and save his grandma’s house. While on the green, there are a few brief scenes here and there featuring none other than World Golf Hall of Famer Lee Trevino. The six-time major winner’s role was small, but iconic nonetheless and a pleasant surprise for golf fans watching the senseless but hilarious comedy film. The golf legend, playing himself, mostly shook his head at some of Happy’s antics. Years later, he admitted that he wished he had read the film script first before agreeing to the cameo.
“If they were going to use all those foul words in there, I never would have done it,” said Trevino.
Tin Cup (1996)
Released the same year, Tin Cup is the highest box office-grossing golf movie ever, earning $54 million. Another one of the classics, but a romantic-comedy instead that follows Kevin Costner’s character Roy ‘Tin Cup’ McAvoy. He’s a washed-up pro attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open. As a film about professional golfers, the producers were adamant about having some pros also be a part of it. Their efforts certainly paid off, as the film is filled with pro golfer cameos, including two-time PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson, Craig Stadler, John Cook, Johnny Miller, Lee Janzen, Billy Mayfair, Corey Pavin, Fred Couples, and Peter Jacobsen.
A story from the set often remembered by the cast is Mickelson winning a bet they all made against him. Actor Cheech Marin, who played Costner’s caddie recalled: “We were between scenes, standing around, and someone came up with a bet. There was this really tall pine tree, and someone said to Phil Mickelson, ‘I bet you can’t put your shoulder against the tree, drop a ball and hit it over the tree.’ The shot basically had to go straight up. Everybody threw in a hundred bucks. I think there was $1,200 in the pot. And he did it! When the ball was still in the air, Mickelson bent over, picked up the money, and put it in his pocket.”
The Caddy (1953)
This 1953 American semi-musical-comedy-sports film stars comedy duo Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in their prime. It follows the dynamic tale of their characters Harvey and Joe, as they start out as a professional golfer and his instructor, respectively. The film is known best for Dean Martin first singing the hit song “That’s Amore”, as well as its several cameo appearances from some of the leading golf pros of both the era and of all time. These include special appearances from nine-time Major championship winner Ben Hogan, Sam Snead – who’s won 82 PGA TOUR titles; five-time Major winner Byron Nelson and three-time Major winner Julius Boros. Watch a clip of Hogan’s swing in the film below.
Who’s Your Caddy (2007)
Directed by Don Michael Paul and released in 2007, this American comedy film then faced swift negative reviews as a box office failure. It follows the story of hip-hop star C-Note, played by Big Boi, after he is denied membership into an exclusive country club and finds a way to get in. Regardless of the film’s poor ratings, they still managed to fit in a cameo by Swedish pro golfer Jesper Parnevik. Parvenik spent 38 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking in 2000 and 2001, and enjoys the acting scene alongside his golf. He has since become a TV star in his home country, Sweden.
Entourage, Season 5 Episode 6 (2008)
Less well-known than his “Tin Cup” movie cameo, Phil Mickelson also made an appearance, playing himself, on the HBO TV series ‘Entourage’. The comedy-drama show ran for 8 seasons, between 2004 and 2011. In 2008, when the American pro tried his hand again at acting, it was just episodes after the show had made a jab at his 2006 U.S. Open loss at Winged Foot.
The Actor Jerry Ferrara, who played Turtle on the show, told GOLF Subpar Podcast: “One of the lines in the Yom Kippur episode, when Ari is not allowed to use his phone and we are trying to get the ‘Medellin’ movie made or whatever, and Ari says I think to his wife, ‘The guy is melting down worse than Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot.’”
Mickelson took the joke like a champ, later telling the cast he thought it was “hysterical” and was happy to be a part of the show. The clip, containing some NSFW language, can be watched below.
Parting Shot
It seems a lot of the pro golfers out there are as courageous as they are talented with a club, and they aren’t too quick to shy away from the challenge of the big screen. Most on our list have stepped out of their comfort zones to do so, and many are quick to agree to a short comedy scene. This perhaps says something about the players and their beloved sport – that golf is a thrilling and joyful game played by adventurous, fun-seeking people.