How Netflix’s Series ‘Full Swing’ Changed Public Perception of Golfers

Seen Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’ series yet?
Here’s how it’s changing the way the world sees golfers…
And why it’s an excellent watch for anyone. 

Jordan Fuller

Before Full Swing, most golf coverage was all about scores and shots. After Full Swing? People are seeing golfers and the game in a new way… As more than just athletes.

The series doesn’t just catch their interactions on the course. Full Swing shows their family life, the struggles they face, and the goals they set for themselves. That’s a whole new level of intimacy, and a kind of personal storytelling that makes the game and the people feel more real. They’re not just faces and stats on a screen anymore. They’re real people.

And it didn’t end there. The PGA Tour noticed how much viewers enjoyed this kind of personal content and came to the party. Instead of the old-school technical golf broadcasts, they’re showing more personal moments, like interviews and behind-the-scenes clips, giving fans a chance to get to know the players, not just their stats.

How Has Full Swing Changed the Way Golf Is Covered?

The first-of-its-kind series shifts the focus from the tournament itself to the people inside it. Instead of following a strict event schedule (like most golf shows do), Full Swing builds each episode around a specific player’s experience, using interviews, private moments, and selective match footage to tell their story.

This immersive way of storytelling makes golf feel less like a results-based sport and more like a collection of personal journeys. It’s not cold, clinical, and all about winning anymore… It’s become about the characters in the story, and their personal development along the way.

Showing the People Behind the Faces

One of the biggest ways Full Swing changed golf is by showing what the players are like as actual people. In the past, golfers were often seen as quiet and distant… Mannequins who just happened have great aim!

The show broke that image by looking closely at the golfers’ personal lives, something that many of them have kept closely under wraps in years gone by. Instead of untouchable celebs, fans see real, vulnerable, emotional people… Which helps them build stronger bonds with their favorites.

Brooks Koepka’s story stands out. Once one of the top players in the world, Brooks is seen struggling with self-doubt and injuries, something so many of us “regulars” can relate to. In one scene, he sits at his kitchen table, looking defeated, and says how badly he wants to win again. It’s an insightful moment that shows how much pressure golfers feel, even after years of success.

Tony Finau’s story is different but just as powerful. He lets the cameras follow him during tournaments and at home with his wife and five kids. He speaks about the balance between being a pro golfer and being a dad. Viewers see him as someone who cares deeply about family, not just trophies.

These moments (and so many more) made the players feel real. Viewers connect with them in a new way, not just as athletes but as people with emotions, problems, and lives off the course. That emotional honesty helped build stronger loyalty among fans.

Bringing in New Viewers

It’s not only golf fans who are watching, either. Golf got a major spotlight boost when the series premiered on Netflix. Instead of relying on traditional sports coverage, the PGA Tour reached a massive global audience through a platform used by millions every day.

The release was timed with one of the sport’s biggest events, the WM Phoenix Open, and was promoted with a celebrity-filled premiere. Serena Williams, Shaquille O’Neal, DJ Khaled, and more big names were part of the rollout, putting golf in front of fans who may have never followed the game before.

That level of attention doesn’t guarantee lifelong fans, but it placed golf in everyday conversations. Viewers didn’t have to know the rules or the rankings; they just had to press play. That lower barrier to entry opened the door to new types of fans… Quick way to up the fan base and get people invested from the start!

Focusing on Stories, Not Just Tournaments

Traditional golf coverage tracks tournaments in real time, with broadcasts built around competition results. This series flipped that. A tournament only became part of the story if it mattered to the player featured.

Each episode focused on one golfer or a small group, using their season to explore things like pressure, goals, and personal challenges. The show moves easily between events and storylines without being tied to the tour calendar, reminding us that the players are humans with lives off the course as well as on it.

It doesn’t matter if you know nothing about golf. You don’t need to follow tour stops or stats. You only need to follow one real, human story at a time.

Impact on the Game: TV, Sponsorships, and Growth

Thanks to the show, networks are rethinking how to present golf to their audiences. TV execs are getting creative with personal content, like mic’d-up interviews during play and behind-the-scenes segments. Footage is taking on a more engaging feel, allowing viewers to build relationships rather than watching from the outside.

Aside from golf coverage, players featured in the series also saw growth in their personal brands. Several gained more media attention, social media followers, and interest from sponsors. With more fans now recognizing players for who they are, not just their swing, what golf clubs are in their bag, or their temperament on the course, endorsement value has shot up.

The focus is no longer just on competition. It now includes the stories that make those competitions matter.

Celebrity and Cultural Integration

Full Swing did a good job of blurring the line between sports and entertainment. Its premiere looked more like a movie launch than a tournament preview! The crowd included actors, athletes, and musicians who aren’t normally seen at golfing events.

This kind of rollout wasn’t just for show, though. It placed the sport right into spaces usually reserved for music, film, and pop culture. And that shift didn’t happen on the course; it was all about how the game was positioned in media and entertainment circles.

Suddenly, golf gained a presence in conversations outside of sports coverage. Players began appearing in interviews and social posts where golf used to be a footnote, not the actual topic.

What’s Next for the Series?

Season 3 of Full Swing premiered on February 25, 2025. It continues the personal character-first approach and sprinkles in some footage from 2024 PGA Tour majors. Old favorites come back for more (Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and more), plus some new names viewers might not know yet.

New episodes cover some interesting storylines, including Scottie Scheffler’s arrest, Ludvig Åberg’s major championship debut, and McIlroy’s performance at the U.S. Open. The show does an excellent job of balancing on-course drama with personal moments, keeping viewers as engaged as they’ve been in the first 2 seasons.

Season 3 ends by pointing toward the Ryder Cup and deepening the story arc of Keegan Bradley. Netflix hasn’t confirmed a fourth season yet, but so far, stats suggest that the viewers want more! A fourth season is likely (perhaps early 2026), so keep your eyes peeled.

What began as a series about golf became something much bigger thanks to the power of storytelling and humanness. In this new sport-story world, athletes aren’t just competitors… They’re part of a wider story about identity, pressure, and public perception.

It’s not just about who wins, this time. It’s about who people remember and can relate to. For the first time, golfers are untouchable. They’re like you and me… Just with some serious golfing talent.

If you haven’t seen it yet, treat yourself. Whether you’re a golfer or not, this human story captures hearts and showcases a whole new side of a sport that’s traditionally been seen as a bit old-fashioned.

Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game
or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence