More cameras are coming to a PGA Tour venue near you, including this week’s Farmers Insurance Open.
On-site tournament filming for a Netflix series shining a light on PGA Tour players and their lives on and off the course has recently commenced, and it was only two weeks ago we learned of the star-studded lineup that’s signed on. Household names like Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Collin Morikawa, to name a few, will all be a part of the series, which promises to capture pro golf’s stars not only on the course but in travel, training, at home and more.
Some pros are just now speaking publicly about it for the first time. Thomas was asked about why he signed on during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday at Torrey Pines.
“As soon as it becomes a burden or as soon as it becomes a hindrance in my preparation or anything that is involved in me trying to get as prepared as I can to win a golf tournament, then I’ll be done with it,” Thomas said. “On the golf course stuff is very obvious, everybody sees the footage of us in practice rounds on Golf Channel or then us in a tournament, so I don’t think that stuff’s going to be anything groundbreaking. Just the fun different things that people wouldn’t necessarily see. They might see a picture or video on Instagram of me hitting balls at home or me working out, but maybe not through an entire club-fitting or through a session with my dad and I. Just me drinking beer with my buddies watching football. There’s a lot of different aspects that I think will be great for not only myself but guys that give people a little better understanding of who we are and grow our brand a little bit.”
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The series has promised unprecedented access inside the ropes and behind the scenes — including at all four majors — but still, since many pros are quick to protect their brand, Thomas was asked if players would open themselves up enough to create a compelling product.
“That’s a good question. Everybody’s going to be different, you know what I mean? I don’t plan on being any different person than I am. There could be guys that maybe try to act different or do something different just to appeal, or I don’t know,” he said. “You definitely have your guys that are more interesting than others, and me during an off-week isn’t really a whole lot of fun, it’s pretty basic. But then again, at times I do some stuff, but there are guys, they go out on their boat all the time, they do whatever.”
And which pros might be in line to benefit the most?
“I think it’s just a great opportunity for the Harry Higgs of the world, the Joel Dahmens that are great, absolutely ridiculous human beings that have such great hearts but they’re so funny to be around that they deserve a spotlight for the kind of people that they are,” Thomas said. “I think their sense of humor is going to come out.”
Higgs is a big personality known for his deep-V and shades, while Dahmen, along with looper Geno Bonnalie, might be one of the funniest player-caddie duos around. (They recently played along when a shuttle driver thought they were fans.)
“Our members will love getting to know the players and personalities as well as the iconic venues along the way,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s VP of unscripted and documentary series. “Even the most devoted golf fans have never seen the sport quite like this.”
The show’s first episodes will likely be released in early 2023.