MAJOR CHAMPS TO BE IN NETFLIX DOCS
Formula One racing got a huge boost in interest in North America through the Netflix series “Drive to Survive.”
Netflix now is expanding to a documentary series on golf, with the PGA Tour and the organizers of the four major championships granting access for a behind-the-scenes look. Among those who have signed up (without pay) to participate are multiple major champions like Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa. Also on the list are Max Homa and Joel Dahmen, who have revealed their personalities through various social media.
For the players, it’s a chance to increase their exposure and grow their brands. Koepka was said to have spent an hour with the producers during the Hero World Challenge.
Rick Anderson, the chief media officer at the PGA Tour, said the Netf lix series will allow golf to tap into a new and diverse audience and “give fans an an authentic look into the real lives of our athletes, and what it’s like to win — and lose — during a season on the PGA Tour.”
Golf, however, will have competition in the Netflix sports documentary space.
Tennis also will have a series with Netflix in partnership with the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour and the four Grand Slam tournaments, starting with the Australian Open this week. That is sure to include the drama of Novak Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and was given an exemption to enter Australia, only to be deported when Australian authorities revoked his visa.
What makes the tennis series different from golf ’s is that it will include men and women, who play their Grand Slam events at the same venues.
Missing from the list of PGA Tour players is Jon Rahm, the No. 1 player in the world, FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy. Also missing is Bryson DeChambeau, who said last week while promoting the
Saudi International that it “wasn’t a deal that was struck that was very well for my side.”
DeChambeau said people already get a good look at his life through a YouTube channel and Instagram. He said the Netflix golf series would be “cool to see” and have interesting stories to be told about players not as well known, like Harry Higgs.
“I don’t want to take the light away from them for their potential to grow themselves in a manner that’s unique to them, where they’re already pretty far behind,” he said. “They have the opportunity to grow a lot more than I do in that regard.”
Cantlay looks for groove
No. 1 Jon Rahm and No. 4 Patrick Cantlay are the topranked players at the American Express in La Quinta.
FedExCup champion Cantlay is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Tournament of Champions. Last year, the former UCLA player closed with a Stadium-record 61 to finish a shot behind winner Si Woo Kim.
“I feel like I knocked off a bit of rust in Maui after not playing for a good little bit,” Cantlay said. “I’m going to have a bunch of starts here coming up, so that’s exciting to try and get into a groove and get the year started off right.”
Ranked fourth, Cantlay will open at La Quinta in a group with Scottie Scheffler.
“This is great place for me to start the year,” Scheffler said. “Outside of trying to be at Kapalua every year, this is a good place to start in the 48 states. Great weather. Golf courses are in good shape.”
Tournament host Phil Mickelson is making his 19th appearance in the event he won in 2002 and 2004. He will play alongside Rickie Fowler
the first three rounds, also starting at La Quinta. Fowler is making his first start since his wife gave birth to their first child in November.