The recognition of golf as a sport has been increasing lately, and Netflix’s new series could be the tipping point for more golf content to come. Golf has always been a challenging sport to market due to its lack of personalities, long duration, and lack of understanding among some viewers. However, with the rise of young talent and behind-the-scenes insights provided by Netflix’s Full Swing, these challenges could become a thing of the past. The show highlights a wild year in golf by following various players and capturing candid moments. I have personally watched the show twice and enjoyed every minute of it. In this post, I’ll be sharing my biased ranking of the show’s episodes, so be warned that there will be spoilers. If you haven’t watched Full Swing yet, head over to Netflix, binge-watch all eight episodes, and then come back to compare your rankings with mine!
1. Don’t Get Bitter, Get Better (Episode 6)
The top-ranking episode is “Don’t Get Bitter, Get Better,” named after a quote by Tiger Woods, which is explained in the beginning scenes. The episode focuses on two PGA Tour players, Tony Finau and Collin Morikawa, who are different in their playing styles and personal lives. However, they share a common bond as they both started playing golf because of Tiger Woods, like millions of other golfers worldwide. The episode offers a unique perspective on the lives of both players, highlighting the contrast between Tony’s large family, who travels with him to most tournaments, and Collin, who travels with only his wife and dog.
The episode provides a detailed account of Tony’s struggles growing up as an African American in the golfing world and how his determination helped him break through and win back-to-back tournaments. Tony is portrayed as a family-oriented and amiable person, which I can confirm to be true as I have been lucky enough to have my own personal interactions with him at a couple of Canadian Opens. I am a big fan of Tony and I believe he will win a Major tournament someday.
Collin Morikawa, one of the top 10 players in the world, is also featured in the episode. The episode shows Collin’s early success in his career, with two Major Championships already under his belt. The episode also includes highlights of Collin recounting his memories of the Masters and his meeting with Adidas to decide what he will wear for the tournament. You get an inside look at the two players on their journey to the Masters and the Open Championship, featuring heartfelt interviews filled with real emotion.
Overall, the episode provides a genuine and raw look into the lives of both players and their struggles and triumphs on the road to what happen to be my favourite tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule. It is my favourite episode of the series.
2. Imposter Syndrome (Episode 4)
Episode 4 of the series was my second favorite, which documents Joel Dahmen’s journey to the US Open. If you’re looking for a relatable golfer, then Joel is the one to watch. The episode solely follows Joel, who is not considered a star on the PGA Tour. He is honest with himself, so much so that even his childhood best friend and caddie worry about his mental state affecting his game. Joel’s candidness shines through when he says, “It’s not like I don’t try and I don’t practice, but someone’s gotta be the 70th best golfer in the world, might as well be me.” While he could potentially win more events with more self-confidence, it was still great to see the real and honest person he is. The episode provides an inside look into his qualifying for the US Open, which almost didn’t happen due to self-doubt, only for him to qualify and lead throughout the tournament where he ultimately finished tied for 10th place. A fantastic accomplishment for someone who had doubts about even trying to make it into the event in the first place. Watching this episode will undoubtedly make you a fan of Joel and his caddie, and I wish them nothing but success in the future!
3. Everything Has Led To This (Episode 8)
In my opinion, the third-best episode of Full Swing is the finale, which features the highly debated player of the golfing world at the moment, Rory McIlroy. Surprisingly, Rory wasn’t originally included in Full Swing’s filming plans, but it would be impossible to cover the 2022 PGA Tour season without him. Rory has been one of the leaders in the battle against the LIV Golf Tour and has been the face of the PGA for several years now. During the episode, Rory admits to taking the PGA vs LIV battle too personally, but in my view, it’s a good thing he did. Rory understands the importance of legacy, and I believe that to be true as well. The LIV golf tour will never be on par with the PGA Tour, and I don’t really even view both Tours in the same world at the moment.
The episode follows Rory’s intense battle against Cam Smith at The Open Championship, which takes place at the home of golf. It’s fitting that Smith joined LIV, and the media had a field day with this tournament, using it as a PGA vs LIV narrative. The episode concludes with Rory winning the Tour Championship and earning a massive $18 million payday as the winner of the FedEx Cup. The series wraps up with Rory in the locker room, scrolling through his phone and reading a congratulatory text from none other than the greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods. Rory mentions that Tiger is always the first to congratulate him after a win, which is any golfer’s dream.
4. Win Or Go Home (Episode 2)
Episode 2, “Win or Go Home”, takes fourth place in my rankings. This captivating episode features two contrasting players, Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler. Their careers are heading in different directions, as illustrated throughout the episode. Scottie, the number one ranked golfer at the time, is unstoppable, winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Green Jacket at The Masters, putting him at the top of the golfing world in 2022. Meanwhile, Brooks, known for his nonchalant attitude and almost bad boy reputation, has lost his game and confidence. Despite winning four Major Championships early in his career, he is quoted as saying he can’t compete with the young stars, including Scottie. The producers repeatedly ask him if he is joining the LIV Golf Tour, which he eventually does. The episode shows the mental toll the game of golf can take on a player. Once on top of the golfing world, Brooks is now questioning if he can ever win again, leading him to take the guaranteed money offered by LIV. Golf is known to be 90% mental and 10% skill, and this episode brings this fact to light through Brooks’ struggles with self-doubt.
5. American Dreams (Episode 5)
Episode 5 of Full Swing earns the 5th spot in my rankings. The featured players in this episode are Dustin Johnson and Matt Fitzpatrick, two golfers with vastly different personalities and career trajectories. We see Dustin make the decision to join the LIV Golf Tour, which was a significant loss for the PGA Tour, given his numerous wins and sustained top form. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick, a loyal member of the PGA Tour, was still seeking his first win. However, he achieved that goal in spectacular fashion by winning the US Open on the same course in Boston where he had won the US Amateur Championship a decade earlier. The episode provides an intimate look into Fitzpatrick’s simple and understated life, making it easy to become a fan of his.
6. Frenemies (Episode 1)
My expectations were high for the first episode, but it left me a bit disappointed. The episode features two golfing greats, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who have been friends and rivals since their junior golf days. We get to see them travel together to a couple of tournaments and engage in friendly trash talk on the private jet and during practice rounds. Both have achieved great success in their careers, winning majors and various other tournaments. In this episode, we witness Justin’s triumph in the PGA Championship in a thrilling playoff. I found it amusing that on the final day of the event, Justin was battling a cold and the cameras followed him to a CVS store to get medication. However, when he tried to pay for it, his card was declined, which made him seem relatable despite his immense wealth and status. While I was hoping for more excitement, I still enjoyed this episode and hope to see Jordan and Justin featured again in the series as I believe Netflix missed an opportunity to fully showcase their dynamic rivalry.
7. Golf Is Hard (Episode 7)
Episode 7, “Golf Is Hard”, takes the 7th spot on the list. This episode highlights the PGA Tour rookies of the 2022 season, including Sahith Theegala and Mito Pereria, as they compete for their first PGA Tour win, a challenging feat for rookies. Theegala comes close to victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open but falls short, resulting in an emotional moment as he breaks down in tears in his parents’ arms. Despite not winning, Theegala’s rookie season was impressive, and he has the potential to become a great tour player. On the other hand, Pereria shocks everyone by leading the PGA Championship until the 18th Tee in the final round. However, he hits his tee shot in the water and finishes with a double bogey, knocking him out of the playoff where Justin Thomas eventually wins. Similar to Theegala, Pereria is shown being comforted by his family after the heartbreaking loss. This episode offers a good insight into the background of two young players who lack the star power and storylines of other episodes.
8. Money Or Legacy (Episode 3)
The third episode comes in last place, feeling somewhat irrelevant. It follows Ian Poulter as he considers leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV, but the problem is that he had already made that decision prior to the show’s release. The episode provides insights into his thought process, with Poulter citing his family as a key factor in his decision. Despite his success in the Ryder Cup, Poulter hasn’t had many significant wins on the PGA Tour. While his departure may not be deeply felt, the episode doesn’t quite hit the mark either. In hindsight, it would have been better to feature another golfer instead.
With the first season of Full Swing now ranked, I bring you great news for golf enthusiasts: season 2 is set to be released in 2024! I am excited to assess and compare the new episodes to those of the first season.