Golf in Las Vegas Delivers Again As Kickoff to Formula One Race Week
This is the latest in a series of articles about how golf is the common thread of nearly every big event in Las Vegas, the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World.
Never in a million Titleists did any of those involved in The Netflix Cup special live from the beautiful Wynn Las Vegas golf course ever think they would be involved in such an event. But there they each were, teeing off—or commentating—during the first live sporting event on the streaming behemoth that finished under the lights in the shadow of the tantalizing Sphere Vegas.
The event solidified this writer’s notion that every big event in Las Vegas has one thing in common: golf. The Netflix Cup served as arguably the first official event of F1 Week in Vegas, which has transformed the Las Vegas Strip into a maze of grandstands, race-light grids, hairpin curves and VIP areas, mystifying locals and overwhelming tourists during the months-long race prep process.
The Sphere, seen behind Wynn Golf Club at dusk, was a fascinating backdrop during The Netflix Cup.
Courtesy Brian Hurlburt
The Netflix event featured four two-player teams made up of an F1 star and PGA Tour star playing in a two-player scramble. The team of Justin Thomas and Carlos Sainz won, defeating Tony Finau and Pierre Gasly when Thomas won a closest-to-the-hole competition on the event’s final swing. To advance to the sudden-swing playoff, Team Thomas had previously defeated Rickie Fowler and Lando Norris, while Team Finau had defeated Max Homa and Alex Albon.
For their successful efforts, Thomas and Sainz earned the inaugural Netflix Cup trophy plus checkered jackets adorned with the big, red "N" Netflix logo. Thomas was impressed by the threads, but immediately looked ahead to another opportunity to win a jacket next April.
“I would love to wear another jacket like this that's green here in a handful of months,” Thomas said as he sipped a celebratory cocktail in the Wynn clubhouse while still wearing the Netflix jacket. “But seriously, this was a lot of fun. Carlos played great and it was cool to get it done there at the end with that one swing.”
Justin Thomas in the winner's jacket.
Courtesy Brian Hurlburt
On the television call was a cornucopia of varying talent that included sportscaster Kay Adams, PGA Tour player and Netflix Full Swing superstar Joel Dahmen, NFL and life legend Marshawn Lynch, and comedian Bert Kreischer.
Yes, golf was played, but the scene seems to always steal the show during these made-for-television Vegas golf events. Celebrities taking in the action on course included Mark Wahlberg, Davante Adams, Blake Griffin, Steve Aoki, Andra Day and Michelle Wie West, among others. A strong list of golf influencers were also there to chronicle the proceedings in true Gen-X style.
Finau—a late replacement for Vegas resident Collin Morikawa—felt the vibe and how cool it was for his sport to tee things off during what could be one of the biggest weeks in Vegas history.
“It's exciting just to be a part of this,” Finau said. “There were so many A-list celebrities that were in Miami for the F1 race when I was there and that gives you an idea of what could be possible here in Vegas this week. To have this event kick off the week is amazing for our sport. To be alongside these guys who are really the true stars of the week, and for the four of us to be involved in this to push golf and to have golf be part of the whole week, is spectacular.”
Dahmen’s prediction prior to the start of the event, which teed off with a “speed golf” first hole, was omniscient.
“I'm excited for it and I think we are going to see some great golf, some bad golf shots and probably see some good driving in the golf carts,” Dahmen said with a sly smile prior to being a part of his first live golf event as a broadcaster.
For Gasly and his fellow drivers who starred in Netflix’ Drive to Survive, survival on this evening took on a whole new meaning.
“I've never seen that many people sitting on a golf course that could judge my swing, so it kind of makes me shake a little bit,” Gasly said. “But I am quite confident I'm the fastest guy out there in the golf cart, so that's one positive.”
Dahmen summed up the spectacle for all involved who the universe somehow brought together to celebrate the grand ole game—and racing—under the lights one day and night in Vegas.
“I didn't have being a part of something like this on my Bingo card of dreams growing up, but it is super special to be here,” he said. “It shows I have accomplished a lot in my golfing life and shows how great Netflix has been for me.”
Brian Hurlburt is the founder of www.LasVegasGolfInsider.com and can be followed @lasvegasgolfinsider on social media.