Carlos Sainz breaks the Netflix Cup in celebration with Justin Thomas
PGA Tour star Justin Thomas and F1 driver Carlos Sainz win the first-ever Netflix Cup in Las Vegas.
PGA Tour star Justin Thomas and F1 driver Carlos Sainz won the inaugural Netflix Cup at Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas on Tuesday November 14.
Thomas, who had just returned from South Africa following a solo fourth at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, teamed up with Scuderia Ferrari driver Sainz to see off Rickie Fowler and Lando Norris in Match 1 and they then defeated Tony Finau and Pierre Gasly in a closest-the-pin contest in the playoff to become Netflix Cup champions.
Finau stepped in at the final hour after Collin Morikawa was forced to withdraw from the event through injury.
The pairing of Finau and Gasly defeated Max Homa and Alex Albon in Match 2.
It was then left to PGA Tour star Thomas to wrap up the Netflix Cup for himself and Sainz as he fired a beautiful iron shot to within 15 feet in the nearest-the-pin playoff final over Finau and Gasly.
Who won the Netflix Cup?
Each of the matches were staged over a total of eight holes, before a nearest-the-pin contest decided the winning team.
Thomas and Sainz were awarded black and white checkered jackets from Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei for their win.
They were then sprayed with champagne by comedian Bert Kreischer, who was part of the commentary team alongside PGA Tour player Joel Dahmen, sportscaster Kay Adams and NFL star Marshawn Lynch.
Sainz then rather comically broke the Netflix Cup in the victory celebrations!
WATCH WHAT HAPPENED HERE
Carlos Sainz really broke the cup pic.twitter.com/bpcEgZ77Ki
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) November 15, 2023
Here's a photo of how the trophy ended up looking after Sainz smashed it to pieces!
Thomas said prior to the event:
The Netflix Cup was taking place just days before the 2023 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The event pit four F1 drivers who featured in the brand's popular 'Drive to Survive' series with four PGA Tour players who starred in the new 'Full Swing' series.
The 2023 Netflix Cup was screened live on Netflix but it is also now available on demand for those of you who wish to watch it.
Which PGA Tour players competed in the Netflix Cup?
Which F1 drivers competed in the Netflix Cup?
- Lando Norris
- Alex Albon
- Carlos Sainz
- Pierre Gasly
What were the Netflix Cup teams?
- Fowler & Norris
- Thomas & Sainz
- Homa & Albon
- Finau & Gasly
The event started off with a "lights out" par-3 contest where the fastest team to finish the hole regardless of the amount of strokes taken earned the early advantage as well as the tiebreaker.
Thomas and Sainz won their first hole to go ahead in Match 1, while Finau and Gasly nosed ahead in Match 2 when Finau buried a birdie putt.
You didn't expect F1 drivers to play a slow game of golf, did you? #TheNetflixCup https://t.co/10fXdoSF31 pic.twitter.com/0E12bU7cIx
— Netflix (@netflix) November 14, 2023
The players then also competed in a 'Squid Game Hole' on the 5th hole as players played a game of 'Red Light, Green Light' waiting for the 'Squid Game' doll to turn her head before teeing off or face a penalty.
Thomas and Sainz went on to wrap up their match by the 6th hole, while Finau and Gasly came through their match at the 8th and final hole.
Sainz and Thomas then battled Gasly and Finau in a closest-the-pin playoff contest to which Thomas sealed the deal when sending a shot in to 15 feet.
It's fair to say the giant Sphere was all the rage during the broadcast and on social media as the eight sporting stars took to Wynn Golf Club in Vegas.
Homa said of the Netflix Cup:
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