Full Swing Season 2 review: Golf's explosive 2023 teed up tantalizing storylines and Netflix struck gold

The opening sequence of Netflix's Full Swing Season 2 ends with Rory McIlroy turning to the camera and declaring, 'It's been quite the year in the world of golf.'

He wasn't lying. And Netflix's cameras were rolling to capture every moment of the sport's explosive 2023.

Without doubt, last year teed up tantalizing storylines from a fiery Ryder Cup clash, breakout wins and, of course, the June 6 bombshell news of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf ceasefire. 

And, while the sport didn't exactly make it hard for Netflix, unlike its debut season, the streaming giant flushed it. 

Where Season 1 was a surface-level introduction to golf, Season 2 is deep dive into one of the most gripping year in the sport.

Season 2 of Netflix's eight-part professional golf docuseries is released on March 6

Rory McIlroy sets the scene for a dramatic season in the opening sequence of the Episode 1

The eight-part series, which is released on March 6, gets all golf's major moments right, especially the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger. 

The breaking news rocked the sport when it was announced to the surprise of everyone - even the players - and cameras were rolling to capture their live reactions.

They were in Justin Thomas' house as he watched PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on the TV. They were at a Waffle House with Joel Dahmen and his caddie, Geno Bonnalie, as they read the news on their phones. They were in the car with Collin Morikawa and caddie, Jonathan Jakovac, as they were left stunned. 

Most importantly, Netflix was there to capture the candor of the PGA Tour's sacrificial lamb, McIlroy. 'I'm almost at the point where it's like, f**k it, do what you wanna do,' he bemoans in a behind-the-scenes shot of him in his car. 

The Northern Irishman, just like his role on the Tour, is the main figurehead for the series as it navigates the fallout of the biggest bombshell to rock golf. 

McIlroy is a man unleashed. He's purely unrestrained in his behind-the-scenes interviews, even dropping the bomb that he wishes LIV rebel Brooks Koepka isn't triumphant at the Masters or PGA Championship. 

The two-part curtain raiser dedicated to the fallout builds up to Monahan's reckoning in the form of the players' only meeting, which ironically is the only moment the Netflix cameras weren't permitted to capture. And the ultimate question golf fans have been asking themselves for the past nine months rears its head once again: Just how on earth is Monahan still in a job? 

While Netflix finds the fairway on the drama, it also blends the storylines fans were tuning in for with the wider stories from around the game, which creates a lot of raw moments.

Season 2 of Full Swing achieves its goal of showing all aspects of golf by using the sport's biggest events to tell multiple golfers' stories on and off the course.

McIlroy admits he wishes Brooks Koepka isn't triumphant at the Masters or PGA Championship

The cameras capture all the action , including at players' homes (pictured Justin Thomas)

The Masters and the PGA Championship provide the setting for the PGA-LIV soap opera to unfold but they also act as the setting for McIlroy's continuing major drought, Koepka's redemption arc and Dahmen's struggles. 

Dahmen, who had an episode dedicated to him in Season 1, is once again the star of his own show in Episode 3 'Mind Game' but this time the fan favorite is tolling with fatherhood and newfound popularity - fame, ironically, caused by his breakout appearance on Full Swing. 

The particularly gut-wrenching storyline culminates in his popular caddie, Geno Bonnalie, in tears on a private jet, giving his pal an ultimatum: Get help or he walks. 

The episode focuses on the mental side of the game and importantly highlights the help of sports psychologists in the game. But it is swiftly balanced by the lighthearted moments Tom Kim and the Fitzpatrick brothers in the following chapters.

Already a fan favorite, Kim endears himself further as one of the most loveable faces in golf. 

Meanwhile, Alex Fitzpatrick looks to break out from the shadow of his older brother, 2022 US Open champion Matt, at the Open at Royal Liverpool in Episode 5, which delivers multiple heartwarming moments of the extremely likable family alongside an insight into the world of golf outside the top ten players on the PGA Tour. 

The three episodes are perfectly scripted to encapsulate the highest of highs and lowest of lows of the game. 

They also build the suspense for the grand finale fans know is coming. Viewers are left waiting for the series to switch its focus to the Ryder Cup with the final two episodes 'All Roads Lead to Rome' teasing the spectacular but Episode 6 is truly the essential watch. 

Joel Dahmen and his caddie Geno Bonnalie share an emotional moment in Episode 3 

Tom Kim endears himself further as one of the most loveable faces in golf

Alex Fitzpatrick (pictured) looks to break out from the shadow of his older brother, Matt

The chapter, titled 'Pick Six' follows the agonizing deliberation of Team USA captain Zach Johnson as he toils between pal Justin Thomas and veteran Keegan Bradley for the final pick. 

It captures the desperation of Bradley to make another Ryder Cup team as he grinds at events to give Johnson every reason to select him, while also showing the 'boys club' that the US side has become with the captain dining with Thomas, who is still vying for a spot, despite a season of strife on the course.  

The episode juxtaposes the ultimate elation of Thomas with the heartbreak of Bradley to perfectly explain the significance of the tournament with even non-golf fans left on the edge of their seat as the series travels to Marco Simone. 

Viewers are left in no doubt of the level of passion out on the Italian course and, like the rest of the season, Netflix leaves it all on display. 

The creators even manage to overcome the restriction of being denied access to the teams' locker rooms. And yes, cap-gate is caught on camera with everything said during that fiery interaction between the Europeans and Patrick Cantlay's caddie no exception.

There are some moments where you're left wondering why Brian Harman and his underdog Open win haven't been mentioned. There’s barely a peep from World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the face of the game Tiger Woods or any LIV stars bar a brief interview from Dustin Johnson. 

You're also left questioning why we've heard nothing about Jon Rahm, his Masters win and ultimate LIV defection but maybe that's one being kept in the vault for next year... roll on Season 3?

But overall, Full Swing Season does well, it doesn’t force the storylines just because they're the ones that made the headlines. 

The season ends in a grand finale with a two-part look at the feisty Ryder Cup in Rome 

It captures the desperation of Keegan Bradley (pictured) to make another Ryder Cup team

Team USA captain Zach Johnson (R) as he toils between pal Justin Thomas (L) and Bradley

It’s rare for a sequel to match the quality of the original. It’s even rarer for it to eclipse it. But that’s exactly what Full Swing does. 

The first season was enjoyable but it left a lot to be desired. The second season left nothing untouched, jampacked with every storyline imaginable and you still won't want it to end.

2024 won't have sport-altering bombshell news halfway through the year. There'll be no Ryder Cup either. But Season 2 suggests Netflix has finessed its formula to encapsulate a full season of golf through the right storylines.

Season 2 leaves fans confident that Full Swing can offer value, fully formed plots and more importantly organic storytelling. Get Season 3 teed up already.