Footage of Tiger Woods playing junior amateur tournament goes viral with fans convinced he used Happy Gilmore’s caddie
INCREDIBLE throwback footage of Tiger Woods left fans convinced he used Happy Gilmore’s caddie.
The golfing great, 49, burst on to the scene as a youngster in the 1990s.
But long before the first of his 15 major wins at the 1997 Masters aged just 21, he impressed at the prestigious US Junior Amateur Championships.
Woods won the tournament in 1991 – becoming the youngest winner at 15 – and defended the title in both 1992 and 1993 and remains the only three-time champion.
However, it is footage from the 1990 event that went viral on social media.
The 27-second clip was posted by the USGA to celebrate Woods’ birthday on Monday.
It showed a fresh-faced 14-year-old Woods marching up the fairway and across the green in a green top and vintage white visor cap.
But most of the attention was directed away from Woods and instead on to his caddie.
Because not only is the bag man wearing “what could be the best caddie outfit of all time” with jeans, a Panama hat and a simply baffling checked sleeveless vest.
But he is also sporting a bushy mop of hair, a long beard and sunglasses as he carries Woods’ clubs.
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And that means he strikes a strong resemblance to the caddie in 1996 film Happy Gilmore.
In the iconic movie which is set for a sequel and could even feature Woods, Gilmore – played by Adam Sandler – is helped on the golf course by Otto, a homeless man who eventually becomes his best friend and loyal caddie.
Like Woods’ caddie at the Lake Merced Golf Club in California, Allen Covert’s character Otto has wild long hair and thick facial hair.
That prompted plenty of hilarious comments on social media in response to the viral video.
One said: “The true origin behind Happy Gilmore’s caddie selection!”
Another wrote: “I wonder how many times @thatallencovert has been tagged in this.”
A third added: “Incredible.”
A fourth typed: “Wait I’ve seen this before.”
A fifth responded: “Perfect resemblance.”
A sixth joked: “No way this is real. I want a full docuseries devoted to this story.”
A seventh commented: “I can’t stop watching this. The jeans. No sleeves.”
An eighth laughed: “This is so good hahahaha.”
And a final user replied: “Same energy,” with a screenshot from Happy Gilmore of the hockey-turn-golf star and Otto.