Netflix Pairs PGA Tour Stars, F1 Drivers For First Live Sports Event

Netflix
NFLX
will broadcast its first live sports event next month, a golf tournament that brings together golf and auto racing stars from two of its most successful sports series.

The Netflix Cup will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas and pair up athletes from Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Full Swing. The live stream from the Vegas Strip will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time and will help kick off the week for the inaugural Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The streaming golf event will feature four two-player teams consisting of one F1 driver and one PGA Tour professional. The teams will play eight holes of match play, with the top two advancing to the final hole — almost assuredly the dramatic par 3 18th at the base of a waterfall — to decide the first Netflix Cup winners.

Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas are the PGA Tour players currently on the Netflix Cup roster, while the F1 drivers are Alex Albon (Williams Racing), Pierre Gasly (BWT Alpine F1 team), Lando Norris (McLaren Racing), and Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari).

“New and diverse audiences have come to know more about both our sports and their athletes through Full Swing and Drive to Survive, and we are excited to team up with Netflix, Formula 1 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix on this exciting concept,” said Norb Gambuzza, the PGA Tour’s Senior Vice President of Media and Gaming.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, said the success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series has played a significant role in the growth of Formula 1 in the U.S. and, ultimately, to the addition of a third American race — in Las Vegas. “It’s only fitting that we kick off our inaugural race weekend with a fun event that can be streamed by F1 and PGA TOUR fans around the globe,” said Prazer.

Drive to Survive is in production on its sixth season, while Full Swing is finishing filming on season two after a breakout in 2023.

The Wynn Las Vegas has previously been the site of several editions of “The Match,” most recently a showdown of star teammates this past June between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and Steph Curry and Klay Thompson of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. In June 2022, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers beat Mahomes and Josh Allen at the Wynn.