For as much as I love following disc golf, as a fan, my first love was soccer – I’m still obsessed. Major League Soccer is great, but nothing beats watching Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool do their best to take down the English Premier League. And, of course, there’s the World Cup …
Here’s my one massive pet peeve with fútbol fanhood in the United States, though: WAY too many States-based soccer peeps pull for other nations during the World Cup – and I’m not talking about the ones the U.S. isn’t in, either. I’m an American; I root for my homeland.
If the Red, White & Blue is playing, I’m screaming my lungs out for ‘em.
Which brings me to the subject of today’s article …
Tomorrow, Paige Pierce (-8) and Kristin Tattar (-8) will go head-to-head during the final round of the 2022 PDGA Champions Cup. And yes, Sarah Hokom (-1) is “technically” in the running, but short of a pair of hardcore meltdowns, she’s playing for third place in this thing – that’s it.
Paige Pierce is a proud Texan. She’s “American-made” disc golf at its finest, too.
And STILL, I’m pulling for Kristin Tattar.
Nothing against Pierce – far from it. With Tattar spending considerable time on tour for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I find myself entranced by her game – she’s such a joy to watch. So much of a joy, that national loyalties are set aside, and man …
I’m all-in on her – for this tournament, at least.
Kristin Tattar is a generational disc golf talent
For starters, Kristin’s good: She’s REALLY good.
This season, at each of the three Elite Series events she’s played in, she’s finished on the podium: the Las Vegas Challenge, Waco Annual Charity Open and Texas State Disc Golf Championship. That first Pro Tour win in 2022 continues to elude her, but it’s only a matter of time …
Getting beyond what a PDGA profile offers, she crushes the “eye test” for raw talent, too. She makes hitting tight, wooded gaps off the tee seem like the most natural thing in the world. I’ve never bagged a Latitude 64 disc in my life, but at this point, even I now want to pick up a Grace.
And then there’s this:
Setting the pace. Another birdie for Kristin Tattar, she's currently the only player under par on #MovingDay at Champions Cup. pic.twitter.com/iuSCSyMbge
— Disc Golf Pro Tour (@DiscGolfProTour) April 16, 2022
Wow …
Just wow.
The benefit of a straddle stance is that all of the key components that go into a putt are aligned with the basket: It keeps things neat and orderly. The downside of it, however, is that it can be tougher to generate power. The legs do so much of the heavy-lifting, that – to get that extra “oomph” that’s needed for a lengthy bid – jumping or falling forward is usually protocol …
Not for Kristin: What she’s doing without leaving the ground is straight-up black magic.
Kristin Tattar is humble (and she’s all-in on disc golf)
Beyond her obvious ability, though, she’s about as unassuming of a professional athlete as you’ll ever see. She’s a freak talent. And she knows it. But that NEVER prevents her from showing respect to others or keeping a level head. She shows up, throws well and goes home.
No hint of an attitude. No sense of entitlement. Just the same thing, week after week.
And that whole #GrowTheSport thing the greater disc golf community was obsessed with for the better part of a decade? Outside of touring as a disc golfer with Latitude 64, it’s her full-blown “nine-to-five” gig – she and her partner, Silver Lätt, run a disc golf academy back in Estonia.
Screw national pride: I’m a budding fanboy of Kristin Tattar.
Today, atop the FPO division’s leaderboard at the Champions Cup, anything’s possible. If Pierce wins, super. If Hokom wins, color it confirmed: Miracles do exist. But if Tattar pulls this one out, full disclosure, guys and gals: I’ll be the teensiest bit happier about the whole thing …
“Let’s see how it plays out.” – Paul Ulibarri [way too many freaking times]
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