3 minute read
I’ll be honest, Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins already feels like someone I should have known about years ago. He’s brash, he’s got a nickname that demands respect, and he’s apparently attempting to claw his way back onto the PGA TOUR. The only problem? He doesn’t exist — at least not yet. Will Ferrell is bringing him to life this summer on Netflix, and based on the teasers that just dropped, this might be exactly the kind of ridiculous, lovable sports comedy the streaming world needs right now.
Netflix released not one, not two, but three teasers for the project. Three. That’s not a PR move you make unless you’re confident in what you’ve got.
Lonnie Who?
Ferrell’s new character is introduced with the kind of commitment you’d expect from the guy who turned ice skating and NASCAR into comedic gold. Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins is billed as one of the greatest names in golf history, a detail that lands funnier the more you sit with it. Not one of the greatest golfers, mind you. One of the greatest names. That tracks.
The announcement angle here is clever. Rather than just dropping a trailer, the campaign is framing Lonnie’s Netflix debut as a news event, complete with a formal declaration that he will be attempting once more to earn his way back onto the PGA TOUR. The self-serious sports documentary energy layered over obvious absurdity is very much in Ferrell’s wheelhouse, and it already feels like it’s working.
Keep an Eye on THE PLAYERS Championship
Here’s the part that made me pay closer attention. Netflix is apparently activating something at THE PLAYERS Championship this Saturday. The teaser hints that Lonnie Hawkins’ biggest fans are about to show up and make some noise at TPC Sawgrass. Whether that means planted crowd members, some kind of on-course stunt, or something else entirely, I don’t know. But dropping a fictional sports character into a real, prestigious golf tournament is a bold move, and I respect it.
Golf has had a surprisingly good run with comedy and crossover moments lately. The sport is not exactly known for loosening its collar, which makes this kind of irreverent takeover all the more interesting to watch play out.
Why This One Feels Worth Watching
Ferrell building a new original character specifically for Netflix is notable on its own. He’s done Buddy the Elf, Ron Burgundy, Ricky Bobby, and Brennan Huff. Each one stuck because the character had a specific world that made the joke bigger. A golf legend who never quite made it, making one final comeback run? That’s a premise with real comedic legs. The sport’s traditions, its etiquette, its culture of hushed reverence — all of it is ripe for exactly this kind of send-up.
I’ll be keeping my eye on what comes out of THE PLAYERS this weekend. If Lonnie Hawkins shows up in any form, you’ll want to be watching.
No official release date has been announced yet, but the Netflix debut is confirmed for this summer. Watch the official teaser below:
