Full Swing: Get Ready for a Deep, New Look at Professional Golf
Now it’s time for golf to follow in Formula 1’s footsteps.[0] Full Swing, a new golf documentary series, is set to air on Netflix on Wednesday, February 15.[1] The documentary follows the 2022 PGA Tour season through the lens of 13 players, giving viewers a never-before-seen look at the personal and professional lives of golfers. With the same production team behind Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which received rave reviews, the hope is that Full Swing can do the same for golf.[2]
Four-time major champion Jordan Spieth is excited to see if Full Swing can bring the same increase in interest that Drive To Survive did for Formula 1.[1] “I had a blast. I gave access in places I don't normally and shared a lot of it with Justin (Thomas),” said Spieth.[3] “We really, really enjoyed that process.[4][5]
Gabe Spitzer, documentary series director at Netflix, said it was a “no brainer[5] to jump into the Full Swing project once it had the support from the PGA Tour, while Chad Mumm, chief creative officer with Vox Media Studios, is excited to see sports fans enjoy the finished product. “You’re going to see golf in a way that no one’s ever seen before,” said Mumm. “We were really lucky to have amazing access, not just from the governing bodies of the sport, but from players like Jordan and his peers who let us into their lives in a way that I don’t think anyone’s ever seen before.[4][5]
The documentary promises viewers a warts-and-all look at the game’s biggest players and its most prestigious tournaments.[6] “This will be pro golf like you’ve never seen,” Mumm said. “We’ve had cameras in places where cameras are never allowed before. We spent a ton of time with players off the course and really get a chance to get inside the world of professional golf. Get ready for a deep, new look.[5]
The last episode of the season takes a look at Rory McIlroy's performance, the playoff at the end of the season, the gathering of golfers led by Tiger Woods in Wilmington, Delaware, and how the PGA Tour is trying to prevent LIV's uprising.[7]
0. “Official trailer for Netflix show ‘Full Swing’ on PGA Tour, LIV Golf” Golfweek, 6 Feb. 2023, https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/02/06/netflix-golf-show-full-swing-trailer-pga-tour-liv
1. “Netflix's Full Swing gambles with direction of storyline” Sports Business Journal, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/02/06/Media/netflix-pga-tour-full-swing.aspx
2. “‘Full Swing’ Trailer: PGA Tour Golf Gets the ‘F1: Drive to Survive’ Treatment in Netflix Docuseries” IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.indiewire.com/2023/02/full-swing-trailer-netflix-pga-tour-golf-documentary-1234806937/
3. “Jordan Spieth builds excitement for PGA Tour Netflix Doc: “What an opportunity”” Golfmagic.com, 2 Feb. 2023, https://www.golfmagic.com/pga-tour/jordan-spieth-builds-excitement-pga-tour-netflix-doc-what-opportunity
4. “Jordan Spieth talks Netflix doc before playing at Pebble Beach” PGA TOUR, 1 Feb. 2023, https://www.pgatour.com/news/2023/02/01/jordan-spieth-talks-netflix-doc-before-playing-at-pebble-beach.html
5. “Full Swing on Netflix: Can PGA Tour documentary series follow Formula 1 success and bring new fans to golf?” Sky Sports, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12802177/full-swing-on-netflix-can-pga-tour-documentary-series-follow-formula-1-success-and-bring-new-fans-to-golf
6. “Full Swing: Season 1 review (with spoilers!) – bunkered.co.uk” bunkered, 11 Jan. 2023, https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/full-swing-season-1-review-with-spoilers
7. “Netflix’s PGA Tour series ‘Full Swing’ gambles on what its audience is looking for” The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2023, https://theathletic.com/4154299/2023/02/06/netflix-pga-tour-golf-full-swing
