Netflix Cup: Fans brand golf event 'biggest s**t show I have ever seen' as Lando Norris and Co play gimmicky holes as broadcast shows more TV and movie previews than on-course action

Netflix's first live produced sporting event, a crossover between Formula 1 and the PGA Tour, has gone from top of the podium to back of the pack.

The so-called 'Netflix Cup' golf tournament began with protestors on the first tee and a gimmicky opening hole - setting the tone for what fans viewed as a disaster ahead.

Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly all were paired with Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Max Homa and a late-addition in Tony Finau.

Finau replaced an injured Colin Morikawa - who appeared on the broadcast despite hurting his back.

Oftentimes, the whole event seemed less focused on the golf and more about Netflix's up-and-coming seasons of Full Swing and Drive to Survive. What resulted was a 'golf event' that was clearly not completely focused on the golf.

These things were noticed by the fans of both sports, who frequently voiced their disapproval with the event. 

These were just some of the select messages and Twitter posts that viewers of the Netflix Cup left:

'The #netflixcup is the biggest s**t show I have ever seen... people talking over each other, not showing all of the play (including the FINAL WINNING HOLE), cringe worthy interviews and awkward commentaries. Huge fail.'

'the person taking care of opening the mics is a Ferrari strategist for sure #netflixcup.'

'#NetflixCup promoted as a golf event with pga golfers and f1 drivers and like half of it is just Not Golf and Not Featuring Those Guys.'

'Did they like not script anything or run anything through before they aired this live??this is so cringe #NetflixCup.'

'I love F1 and I love golf but goddamn, this #netflixcup is just in shambles. They should of just played this as a regular scramble. Probably should have put some more money into the production (audio is wild). Trying to be LIV golf but just not doing a great job of it.'

'Vegas is beating Miami in terms of cringe and the weekend hasn't even started yet #netflixcup.'

Instead of playing a full-on match play event, event organizers decided to involve convoluted 'challenge holes'. Hole No. 1 was a 'race hole' where the teams playing against each other had to finish the quickest.

Almost instantly, there was confusion. The first set of teams - Norris/Fowler and Sainz/Thomas - needed a PGA rules official to step in to determine a winner after Norris moved his ball, believing that team play rules were involved. The announcers were confused, the players were confused, the audience was confused. 

Other 'challenge' holes included a long drive challenge, where the winner would gain a mulligan.

But the most controversial might have been the so-called 'Squid Game' hole. On this hole, players had to time their tee shots to avoid being looked at by the red light/green light doll from the popular show - otherwise you had to play your partner's shot.

Players ended up timing things out pretty well - but it caused the pace of play to stall and essentially rendered the whole gimmick useless.

All those involved were laughing at things. 'That was a waste', Fowler quipped on the Squid Games hole. On the long-drive hole, Homa commented that the team of Finau/Gasly would 'win all the BS games' which his playing partner Albon agreed with.

People at home heard that in part due to the poor sound quality - where multiple microphones were on at the same time and the players were essentially speaking over each other. 

The decision to routinely focus on things that were other than golf (you know, at the golf event) was equally frustrating. 

Instead of showing the final hole that the Sainz/Thomas team won over Norris/Fowler, the crew decided to show an 'Unforgettable Moment presented by Nespresso' where Albon compared the Squid Games doll to his girlfriend.

The only indicator the audience had that everything had ended was a graphic saying that Sainz/Thomas won the match.