Netflix moves into live sports with Netflix Cup golf

Netflix is moving into live sports with The Netflix Cup, a celebrity golfing event featuring athletes from its shows Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Full Swing.

The drivers and golfers will pair up to compete in a match play tournament at Wynn Golf Club at Wynn Las Vegas, an 18-hole, championship golf course on the Las Vegas Strip.

The event will kick off the week of the inaugural Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix and will stream live on Netflix on 14 November.

News of Netflix’s plan to take a tentative step into live sports was first reported by The Wall Street Journal in June.

Netflix’s entry into live sports follows similar moves from other US streamers, such as Amazon’s multi-year deal for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football and Peacock’s Major League Baseball coverage.

The Netflix Cup’s roster currently includes Formula 1 drivers Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, as well as PGA Tour golfers Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.

Four pairs consisting of one driver and one golfer will play an eight-hole match with the top two teams advancing to the final hole, where they will battle for the chance to win the inaugural Netflix Cup title.

The Netflix Cup features stars of two of the streamer’s sports programming titles – Formula 1: Drive to Survive is now in production on its sixth season, while Full Swing is finishing filming on a second season.

“We love to see how our sports series have brought increased fandom to sports leagues and competitions all over the world,” said Gabe Spitzer, VP of  non-fiction sports, Netflix. “The Netflix Cup will take that energy to the next level with global stars from two popular hits competing in our first-ever live sports event.”