Golf’s brand-new ‘Drive to Survive’ style Netflix series – Full Swing

Golf is the next sport to be followed after the massive success of Formula 1’s Drive to Survive series which elevated the viewership of the sport, and this could help grow Golf and the PGA Tour to new heights.

Golf is a sport that is mainly played and watched by older audiences, or those who enjoy playing. It lacks that younger, consumer-based audience that has thrived in Formula 1 over the last 4 years since Drive to Survive was released on Netflix.

What makes the F1 documentary so engaging is the connection to the drivers, where a more personal deep dive into their life is shown to us. Golf severely lacks that personal connection, and there is a gigantic untapped market of fans who have never watched the sport.

The controversy of LIV Golf will certainly spice up the documentary, whom you would expect to be portrayed as the villain to the PGA Tour, which appears to be what is covered. The preview of Rory McIlroy’s speech at the end of the teaser is a grab the popcorn moment and is enough to get anyone excited.

14 golfers appeared to be covered in the first season, including U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Masters winner Scottie Scheffler and LIV golfers Brooks Koepka, Joaquín Niemann, Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson, with the surprise exclusion of Cameron Smith, who won The Open Championship at St. Andrews last year.

The PGA Tour will undoubtedly hope that this elevates the sport in a similar fashion as it did to Formula 1. If it attracts a younger fanbase, it will certainly improve many aspects that the sport is lacking in.

The one drawback is that F1 is global. The PGA Tour is relatively restricted to USA and Europe, and while there is a big market in both areas, The PGA Tour should seek to expand and host more tournaments in Asia and Australia to attract a greater following.

As Ian Poulter rightfully mentioned, Netflix have “picked a hell of a year to start following the PGA Tour”. We cannot wait for this Docuseries.

You can read more on ‘Full Swing’ here.