Netflix’s new golf documentary series Full Swing showcases what life is like on the PGA Tour. The series was released on February 15th by the creators of Formula One: Drive to Survive.
In this article, we will share five talking points to look out for in the show from the trials and tribulations of golfers to the new LIV Tour which has caused division in the sport.
Many of the world’s top-ranked players are recorded on and off the course. One day after being released, the series was the No. 3 show being watched by Netflix users in America.
1. Behind the scenes of a pro golfer
When watching golfers on TV or at an event, it’s hard to get close to them and see what they are thinking.
They appear calm, cool, and collected but many endure droughts and negative thoughts about their game.
The first episode follows three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and 15-time PGA Tour winner Justin Thomas.
Thomas and Spieth have been friends since they were teenagers when they played youth golf together and also competed at the collegiate level.
The episode shows how the two are great friends and highlights their rivalry and how they push each other during practice rounds and joke around while traveling together.
The focus toward the end highlights how Thomas had his ups and downs during the 2022 PGA Championship but overcame a seven-shot deficit in the final round to force a playoff and win the Wanamaker Trophy.
📢 Need To Know: Emotions are a key point throughout the series, and significant points include Brooks Koepka’s run of poor results since winning the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
In one scene the four-time major champion says he’s having trouble with his confidence and keeping up with the current crop of PGA stars.
Koepka also goes into detail regarding how it’s become challenging for him to separate his career from his home life with his fiancé.
2. Life on and off the course
Throughout the series, the cameras follow the professionals during their off time and show the audience how they live at home and spend time with family.
Episode six dives into the family life of Tony Finau. The American golfer of Samoan and Tongan descent has three children with his wife, Alayna.
Finau dedicates time to spend with his family. Thomas’ father is a club professional and a coach similar to his grandfather, so he sees him a lot more often than other players see their relatives.
Koepka’s then-fiance, Jena, is also interviewed during the show and offers her opinions about Koepka’s life as a golfer and how she worries about him.
📢 Need To Know: The commercial side of golf is also shown and highlights how golfers create brand deals and shoot advertisements.
One win can turn an ordinary pro into a celebrity.
3. The LIV Tour Civil War
The Saudi-backed LIV Tour with Greg Norman as its commissioner had its inaugural tournament on June 9, 2022. Filming was done before it launched and highlights certain players thinking of joining.
In the show, the camera follows Ian Poulter and interviews him as he debates whether or not to make the leap over. Poulter knows he will face scrutiny if he leaves the PGA for the LIV.
Making the jump over will pay him more than he makes on the PGA Tour and offers him a chance at winning more money in events with a much smaller field.
Many different pros discuss the LIV Tour and their opinions throughout Full Swing.
📋 Keep in mind: A look into LIV is provided primarily in one episode, but the documentary is mainly about the PGA Tour.
4. Major Championship Battles
Full Swing offers a behind-the-scenes view into the four majors: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and the Open Championship.
The mental grind and talk between player and caddy are shown for the tournaments.
The producers take you into the locker room and private areas such as gyms and show exchanges between the players.
Frustration and mistakes
One scene reveals a meltdown from Poulter in the locker room and his reaction to playing poorly and being stressed.
Mito Pereira’s debacle on the 72nd hole at the 2022 PGA Championship is also shown.
The Chilean stepped up to the tee with a 1-shot lead but ultimately hit his drive in the water and had trouble around the green resulting in a double-bogey.
These costly errors eliminated his chance of winning his first major.
Missed cuts also are highlighted and show the effects on a player’s mind. Poulter said he loves being able to see his family immediately after missing a cut, but that not being paid hurts.
5. Not everyone’s a star
Rory McIlroy and the rest of the main stars have their stories told of winning the FedEx Cup and major championships.
Two different episodes explain to viewers that not everyone on tour is a superstar.
Episode four shows then No. 70 ranked golfer Joel Dahmen. The full-of-life jokester is best friends with his caddie, Geno Bonnalie.
The banter between the two is presented to viewers and Dahmen discusses how he’s not among the top-ranked players in the world and how he’s okay with that.
Life as a rookie
Sahith Theegala’s story as a rookie on the PGA Tour is also told. The Pepperdine University product’s near-win at the Phoenix Open brought him a mix of emotions and his life as a rookie is broadcasted from with an up-close view.
Where to watch the Full Swing Golf documentary
The documentary is available to watch on Netflix. The streaming service offers a basic plan, ($9.99 a month) a standard plan ($15.49 a month), and a premium plan ($19.99 per month).
📢 Need To Know: The plans include different options for how many screens can be used at once as well as the quality of the picture (1080p vs. 4K).
What golfers are featured in the netflix documentary?
The documentary follows the following players:
Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Brooks Koepka Matt Fitzpatrick, Joel Dahmen, Cameron Young, Mito Pereira and Sahith Theegala.
The mixture of veterans, rookies, and differences in career levels makes it an interesting and insightful watch as to how each golfer approaches different situations.
FAQ
How Many Full Swing Episodes Are There?
Full Swing contains eight episodes in the series. Each episode ranges from 40-49 minutes in length.
Is Tiger Woods In The Full Swing Documentary
The legendary Tiger Woods isn’t directly followed by a camera crew in the documentary but is shown at various points and talked about by players. Different professionals and journalists talk about his impact on the game of golf and his comeback from injury in the series.
