Full Swing producer confirms show will feature PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

Pro golfers were stunned Tuesday when news broke of the PGA merger with controversial upstart LIV. And the cameras were running to catch all that reaction.

So count on the moments being a big part of Full Swing, the behind-the-scenes docuseries on Netflix. Chad Mumm, the series producer, tweeted “you better believe we were filming when this broke.”

You better believe we were filming when this broke. #FullSwing.

— Chad Mumm (@chadmumm) June 6, 2023

The first season of Full Swing dropped on Netflix back in February. Season two is expected early next year. The arranged marriage between the PGA and LIV, along with the DP Tour, should be a compelling plot line. Season one featured story lines from the top names in golf. Long-time friends Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were part of the season one debut episode.

Others golfers who got some face time in Full Swing included Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter, Joel Dahmen, Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Mito Pereira and Joaquin Niemann.

No surprise: half of season one featured LIV/PGA conflict

Half of the eight episodes from season one pitted PGA golfers versus LIV competitors. The Saudi Arabian government, with big help from former PGA star Greg Norman, created the breakaway league two years ago. LIV signed a host of big-name golfers, paying some of them nine-figure signing bonuses. The players competed in fewer tournaments. And the tournaments were no cut and golfers only needed to play 54 holes.

It split pro golf. Many PGA stars said they didn’t want to play for a league funded by the Saudi government. They used the term sportswashing. The Saudis have a horrible record on human rights. But other golfers like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson argued that LIV was growing the game across the world.

Season one of Full Swing showed a behind-the-rope look of the British Open Championship, The Players championship, Masters, PGA, the U.S. Open and the FedExCup Playoffs. Some of the PGA-LIV storylines evolved around Koepka, Ian Poulter, Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith.

So count on lots of Full Swing reaction of one of the most significant days in professional golf history.

PGA commissioner Jay Monahan announced the merger, saying “after two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love.” 

Monahan also said: “Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future.”