ATLANTA – Get ready for your favorite stars of Netflix’s Formula One series “Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing,” its PGA Tour version of the hit documentary-style show, to meet on The Strip in Las Vegas in a livestream celebrity golf tournament in November.
The exhibition, which will pit teams of PGA Tour players and F1 drivers in a match-play format, is expected to be the streaming site’s first foray into live sports.
In June, the Wall Street Journal first reported that talks were in the preliminary stages. This week, at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter reported that Norm Gambuzza, PGA Tour’s senior vice president of media and gaming, confirmed that a deal had been finalized. Golfweek confirmed with multiple players that the event is schedule to coincide with F1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for Nov. 16-18, including Collin Morikawa, who confirmed to Golfweek he is planning to play.
The @WSJ first reported on the event and said it will be staged in Las Vegas, with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos later saying it is expected to be held in November
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) August 24, 2023
According to an agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the competition is planned for Wynn Golf Club, originally a Tom Fazio design and renovated along with his son Logan, and the only casino resort course on the Las Vegas Strip. Wynn ranks 19th on Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top 50 Casino Golf Courses.
Netflix is pursuing prominent figures from Season 1 of “Full Swing” as well as hoping to feature players prominently in Season 2, which is currently filming at the Tour Championship, the culmination of the FedEx Cup. Season 2 is expected to drop in early 2024.
Among those players who turned down the opportunity to play in the celebrity event is Jordan Spieth. He was highlighted in the debut episode but passed for good reason.
“They asked me to but it’s a super-busy time for me between having a second child and my foundation event is in the middle of it and I would’ve had to move it and we didn’t want to do that,” Spieth told Golfweek.
The PGA Tour declined to comment. Netflix did not respond to a request to comment.
