Netflix’s Full Swing, released Wednesday, looks to bring the ‘Drive to Survive ‘ effect to the PGA Tour by providing a behind-the-scenes look into every aspect of the lives of the world’s top golfers – and their families.
‘Selfish’ is a key word that is continuously banded about throughout Netflix’s new series with the idea that a golfer cannot focus on anything but themselves and the course.
But with Tony Finau bringing his entire family on the road with him and LIV Golf defectors using family as an excuse to jump ship to the Saudi-backed series, it is clear that while the family-career balance is certainly a juggling act, it’s still important to these players.
From Rory McIlroy, who insisted Netflix’s cameras were coming nowhere near his family, being unable to resist showing his fellow pros a photo of his two-year-old daughter Poppy to Joel Dahmen struggling with a stroller, family life is a heavy theme of Full Swing.
The show does an excellent job at giving fans an understanding of players’ relationships off the course and here, DailyMail.com takes a look at the wives and families of some of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s stars.
Netflix’s Full Swing provides a behind-the-scenes look into the family lives of the top golfers
Even Rory McIlroy is unable to resist showing his fellow pros a photo of his daughter Poppy
TONY FINAU
Finau, 33, is portrayed as the All-American boy – a fan favorite and gentle soul but who doesn’t win as much as he should because of ‘distractions’.
Those ‘distractions’ – or as he knows them, his wife and children – are introduced early on into his episode.
The American has five children, Jraice, Leilene ‘Neenee’ Aiaga, Tony, Sage and Sienna-Vee, with his wife of 10 years, Alayna Galea’i-Finau.
He was thrilled when they welcomed their fifth child in 2021. ‘I’m a Proud father of 5,’ Tony wrote beside an Instagram photo of baby Sienna-Vee. ‘[Alayna] you are a strong woman and I’m so blessed to have you bring our children into this world. Grateful to my heavenly father for our new bundle of joy. #blessedbeyondmeasure.’
Finau has even discussed growing their family in the past, telling the Charlotte Observer: ‘We’d like to at least have one more. We’ll probably do five or six.’
Both Finau and Alayna, who share their Polynesian heritage, come from big families – Tony is one of seven kids and Alayna is one of five – so it comes as no surprise that they have an ever-growing brood.
But balancing a large family and life on the tour is the main storyline of Finau’s episode.
The episode, ‘Don’t Get Bitter, Get Better,’ gives fans a look at Finau year on tour as he brings his wife and children on the road for the entire season.
Tony Finau has five children, Jraice (left), Leilene ‘Neenee’ Aiaga (second left), Tony (center), Sage (third from left) and Sienna-Vee (bottom left), with his wife, Alayna Galea’i-Finau
The couple, who have been married for 10 years welcomed their fifth child, Sienna-Vee, in 2021
Alayna has been a regular fixture at events throughout Finau’s career and the whole clan have regularly caddied for their dad at the annual Par 3 Contest at Augusta before the Masters in matching outfits.
But she was present for almost every single tournament last year as he suggested she and the kids join him on tour for five months following her father’s death.
Knowing the pain of a grieving parent having lost his own mother in a tragic car accident at the age of 47, Finau insisted that the whole brood travelled with him throughout the 2022 season so he could support his wife.
‘These five months have been the greatest blessing and tender mercy I ever needed,’ Alyana wrote at the end of the tour. ‘Stressful at times, but worth it! I wish we did this earlier, but it panned out the way it did, all on the lord’s time.’
The American’s family feature heavily in Full Swing as they travel on the road with him
Alayna is a regular fixture at the professional’s tournaments. Pictured at the Presidents Cup
The whole family ‘caddied’ for Finau in matching outfits at the 2018 Masters Par 3 contest
Throughout the episode, Finau is seen sharing moments with his family, from cooking French toast, playing ping-pong, and working with his eldest son, Jraice, on the putting green.
However, the one moment he is unable to be with them is for the British Open at St. Andrews in July, 2022.
The family didn’t travel to Scotland for the 150th Open as Jraice was competing at Junior World. Finau, clearly upset he cannot be there to watch his son compete at the event, is shown, calling his wife from a hotel room to get an update on Jraice’s performance.
It’s regularly suggested by the open minds on the show that he is being held back by them but the ever level-headed Finau insists: ‘My career means a lot to me, and at times I think we can mistake that it means everything.’
And just when the struggle of family versus success appears to reach its peak, Finau goes back-to-back with Tour wins at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the 3M Open – with the whole family there to celebrate.
IAN POULTER
Family is also a significant theme for Poulter – for entirely different reasons.
He uses his wife and children to explain their decision to join the new Saudi tour, LIV Golf.
Poulter, known for his passion for the Ryder Cup and colorful outfit choices, is presented as a family man alongside his wife Katie, and their four children, Aimee-Leigh, Luke, Lily-Mai and Joshua.
In episode three, ‘Money or Legacy,’ Poulter hammers home that his defection was a family decision, revealing he has ‘been away for over 50 percent of their growth, missing birthdays, walking, talking, first steps.’
Ian Poulter explains his decision to join LIV Golf is motivated by his wife, Katie, and children
Poulter and Katie have been married since 2007 and have two daughters and two sons
The episode shows scenes of him sat around the table having dinner with his family, including his parents, playing practice putting games with the children, them poking fun of him for bailing on a diet and wearing ‘funky’ clothes, and his youngest, Josh, playing dress up in his old sunglasses while Poulter packs for the PGA Championship.
He also goes with 18-year-old Luke to a tournament, with the University of Florida freshman looking set for a bright future in the game.
‘He’s doing what’s best for our family,’ Luke said of his dad’s decision to join LIV. ‘I’m here for whatever he wants to do.’
But all while fans see his family, his incredible homes in both Orlando and England and said putting games, dubbed the ‘41,000-foot challenge’ taking place on a private jet.
Poulter and Katie reportedly met in 1995, when she was a nurse, and tied the knot in 2007.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson’s wife, Paulina Gretzky features heavily in episode five, backing her husband and his decisions.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Gretzky is an actress, model and singer. The glamorous WAG has featured in Grown Ups 2 (2013), Fame (2009) and Guns, Girls and Gambling (2012) and has also had record deals in the past.
The couple currently live together in Florida and have two sons – Tatum Johnson, who was born in 2015, and River Jones Johnson, who was born in 2017.
They got engaged in 2013 and, after a lengthy engagement, finally tied the knot in April 2022.
As the series shows Johnson being questioned for his decision, Paulina adamantly backs her husband, claiming he is doing right by her and their children.
Dustin Johnson’s wife, Paulina Gretzky features heavily in the Netflix docuseries
The couple have two sons – Tatum, born in 2015, and River Jones, born in 2017
Born in Los Angeles, California, the glamorous WAG is an actress, model and singer
‘If anyone thinks that Dustin’s lost his competitive spirit, they don’t know Dustin well enough because he is still ready to show you who the f*** he is and there’s a reason why he’s going back to play these majors,’ she says. ‘He wants to win this just as much as they do.’
‘I don’t think Dustin would ever make a bad choice for his children and people need to understand at the end of the day, that’s what he chose this for,’ Paulina later adds.
The eldest of four siblings, Paulina is the daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest ice hockey player of all time.
‘My dad, being a hockey player, I’m sure as a kid there were times where I’m like why does my dad have to play on my birthday? This is about Dustin and the kids and me and taking care of us and being there with us,’ she explains.
The family can be seen shooting some hoops in one episode, when, after Johnson has missed the basket several times, Paulina ribs him, jokingly asking, ‘Best athlete in the family, Dustin?’
BROOKS KOEPKA
Another former world No. 1, Brooks Koepka, proves he’s not always the ‘tough guy’ in episode two, ‘Win or Go Home.’
Despite battling with the sudden decline in his career, Koepka shares several touching moments with his fiancee and now-wife, Jena Sims Koepka.
While at home, marking his balls with a line to help with putting alignment, Brooks reveals he plays with the No. 33 on them as it is Jena’s favorite number and they got engaged on March 3.
Born in Georgia, Sims, 34, attended Belmont University where she studied International Business. She went on to work as an actress and model with her acting credits including the lead role in Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader, a comedic horror movie made in 2012.
Brooks Koepka pictured with wife Jena Koepka Sims at the Masters Par 3 contest
The 34-year-old, who has worked as an actress and model, married Koepka in June 2022
Before taking up acting, Sims won several beauty pageants. In 2007, she was crowned Miss Georgia Junior National Teenager, along with Miss Georgia Teen USA.
On Netflix, she revealed that she was the one to slide into Koepka’s DMs, initially meeting him at the 2015 Masters before going on to begin dating in 2017.
Their relationship was made public after Koepka won the US Open in 2017 and Jena ran over to celebrate as he holed the winning putt.
The couple got engaged in April 2021, with Koepka proposing on a beach in Jupiter, Florida, and married in Turks and Caicos in June 2022.
The pair share a Black Labrador, Cove, who is seen chasing after a ball and steeling it before it can reach its target as Koepka practices his putting on the carpet at home with a wine bottle as the ‘hole’.
The pair share a Black Labrador, Cove, who chases after a ball and steals it on the show
Koepka practices his putting on the carpet at home with a wine bottle as the ‘hole’
Jena sprawls across Kopeka’s chest in a tiny white bikini and heart-shaped sunglasses
Throughout the episode, Jena can be seen sprawling across Kopeka’s chest in a tiny white bikini and heart-shaped, ‘bride-to-be’ sunglasses as they lounge by the pool at their luxurious Jupiter home.
However, once again, the series depicts golfers struggling with switching off from the game while at home.
After missing out on a win at the 2022 Phoenix Open, Koepka returns home but struggles to move his focus off from his swing.
In the couple’s closet, which features a whole wall dedicated to Koepka’s sneaker collection, he zones out as Jena shows him her bridal outfits for her bachelorette party.
In a later scene, after Koepka has missed the cut at the Masters, Jena, a self-proclaimed optimist, admits to not knowing what to say to her fiancee in those situations.
