The drama that consumed the golf world in 2022 became material for Netflix in 2023 when the eight-episode “Full Swing” documentary hit the screens last month. Like its spiritual ancestor, F1’s “drive to survive,” “full swing” turned players into celebrities, familiar to the wide world as obsessive Justin Thomas, swing-and-cash-check Dustin Johnson, joyous goofball Joel Dahmen Got it done Data-Minded Matt Fitzpatrick, and more.
Now that we’re entering the middle of the 2023 season, it’s time to catch up with the characters — sorry, players — that we followed through the episode “Full Swing.” We will rank them in the 2023 season based on a highly sophisticated algorithm that combines on-course performance, general vibes and actions that will culminate in Season 2. We’ve already got a clear leader…
1. Scotty Scheffler: Episode 2, “Win or Go Home,” was notable for the downfall of Brooks Koepa. (More on that later.) Scheffler was later considered in his own episode, which is fitting because he’s still being ignored on tour — right up until the moment he absolutely wrecks the store. , like he did at Sawgrass this past weekend. You can call him boring if you want, but you can call him “sir” when you want.
2. Jordan Spieth: The downbeat tone of what would become Episode 2 forced the producers to move “Frenemies”, the Spieth-Thomas episode, into the leadoff spot. wise choice. Spieth spent the 2010s as golf’s golden child, and although he has fallen off that momentum, he still has the ability to turn a regular tournament into an event – like last weekend, where he originally made the cut after a shot bounced off a fan’s knee.
3. Rory McIlroy: The season finale “Everything Has Led To This” focused not only on McIlroy’s tragic collapse at last year’s Open Championship, but how he became the PGA Tour’s White Knight in his ongoing battle against LIV Golf. “Yeah, I’d love to come back as a golfer,” he said after missing the cut this week at The Players. “It’s been a busy six or eight months, honestly.” Bad for him, but good for ‘Full Swing’ viewers.
4. Joel Dahmen: The undisputed star of “Full Swing” was Dahmen, the merry weirdo whose joy-slash-disbelief at his own success stood in stark contrast to the ironclad, cocky security of most of the other players. He didn’t do anything particularly important in The Players, but he didn’t need to; She’s already a gallery favorite because of her star turn in the documentary. “It’s hard to get used to,” , “Especially when I’ve been under par for most of the tournament.”
5. Colin Morikawa: Morikawa suffers little in comparison to the freewheeling Tony Finau in episode 6, “Don’t Get Bitter, Get Better”, his methodical approach a stark contrast to the familial chaos of the Finau crew. Morikawa rose to the top of the leaderboard at TPC Sawgrass this weekend, but fell a bit off the pace, finishing T13 after two faltering rounds.
6. Sahit Theegla: Barely made the cut, then fell to the Players over the weekend. But the co-star of Episode 7, “Golf Is Hard,” gets a nod here because of his incessant quote ability. When asked if he thinks he is a top 30 player in the world, he didn’t hesitate. “I’m not. I’m overrated. You’re telling me there’s only 28 people better than me? Not at all. Some parts of my game are good. But then there are other parts that suck.”
7. Tony Finau: Powered by a strong Saturday 66, Finau finished T19 at Players. His recovery hasn’t been bad after his first day diving at Island Green:
Everyone is just waiting to see the whole Finau crew in the little Caddy Eunice in the Par 3 competition.
8. Justin Thomas: Remarkable, if symmetrical, weekend for the reigning PGA champion: 73-73-71-71. His relentless drive in the first episode drew some social media laughs – he was more intense than many Formula 1 drivers who risk death at every turn – but he admitted the overall impression was positive and he’s on board for season two. Were on “I’ve heard very good things from outside or from some friends,” he told The Players before, “so I guess that’s good enough for me.”
9. Ian Poulter: The LIV-iest of LIV golfers in “full swing,” Poulter was unapologetic about his desires in the app. 3, “Wealth or Inheritance.” At the LIV season opener in February, Poulter finished in 12th place and earned $405,000. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but if Poulter had shot the same -4 On the same site, he would have taken home … about $17,000. Not a bad upgrade.
10. Matt Fitzpatrick: In Episode 5, “American Dreams,” Fitzpatrick was shown documenting literally every single shot. Good news this weekend: He only had to do half as many tracks as he usually does, because he missed the cut and went home early. that’ll be fine.
11. Mito Pereira: The most heartbreaking story of both “full swing” and the 2022 season in general thanks to his 72nd-hole loss at the PGA Championship. Finished 15th in his first LIV event, which is not a replacement.
12. Brooks Koepka: The saddest downfall of “Full Swing” is that of Koepka, who appeared as dejected and lost as Scheffler when he won the previous year’s Masters. He finished T27 at the LIV Mayakoba event, and will look to do better at Augusta in a few weeks.
13. Dustin Johnson: Quite the only LIV defector who escaped unscathed, mainly because he was clear about his motives – money, man, money – and resigned from the PGA Tour. won the whole thing last year and took home $35 million, so a T35 finish at the first LIV event of the year isn’t really a concern for him.
The next LIV event begins this weekend in Tucson. Several “Full Swing” notables, including Thomas, Spieth and Fitzpatrick, would play the Tour’s next stop at the Valspar Championship. Three weeks from now, they’ll all come together at The Masters… and that’s where the fireworks begin.
