I’m a sports guy …
Like a “mainstream” sports guy.
So for as great as the Disc Golf Network is, I have no issue wandering from it on a lazy Saturday. As a fan, outside of disc golf, my go-to sport is NBA basketball. Originally from Oklahoma, I’m a die-hard Thunder fan. Naturally, I plan on having the following etched onto my headstone:
“Kiss my butt, Kevin Durant.”
But for as much as I can’t stand the guy, when he went down with a torn right achilles during Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, I was bummed. The Raptors went on to take the series and title the next game, but man – without “Captain Cupcake” himself, the win-or-die game was lame …
It would’ve been better with K.D. in the mix.
In a roundabout way, THAT is what you’re looking at for a six-week stretch of the 2023 Pro Tour calendar. On Wednesday, via Instagram, Paul McBeth released his schedule for the 2023 season:
Notice anything unusual?
For the better part of June and July, as the Pro Tour remains stateside, McBeth will compete in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden and Finland. While overseas, he’ll miss out on the Portland Open, Dynamic Discs Open, the Des Moines Challenge and Preserve Championship …
Those aren’t rinky-dink events.
In fact, there are only two Elite+ events on the 2023 DGPT calendar – one of ‘em is the Portland Open. As an Elite+ tourney, it rewards 150% of the normal Pro Tour points of an Elite Series gig.
Furthermore, as he’ll also bypass the Music City Open, he’s only eligible to earn points at seven Elite Series events. Remember: Points are earned at a player’s eight-best Elite Series finishes.
Last season, Chris Dickerson sat out a few weeks to unwind from the grind of touring – that’s understandable. After a two-hour plane ride, I feel like I’ve hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro. But as a fan, the entire time he was gone, things felt off – every MPO field seemed incomplete without him.
It’ll be worse with Paul out of the picture.
Here’s what you get when McBeast shows up:
- Perk No. 1 – The best disc golfer on the planet.
- Perk No. 2 – Non-stop, aggressive, zero-layup disc golf.
- Perk No. 3 – Head-to-head battles with Sir Richard Wysocki.
- Perk No. 4 – The threat of crushing a decades-old course record.
And when he’s gone?
PLENTY of talent, but an *asterisk* next to every winner’s name …
“Yeah, but McBeth wasn’t even there.”
That’s not good for DGN subscribers.
As a disc golfer, Paul McBeth has nothing to prove – been there, done that. The guy could’ve hung up his GRIPeq three years ago, and he’d still go down as the GOAT in most minds. If anybody deserves to crush the hopes of fringe-level disc golfers in Europe, it’s Paul …
And he will.
But while the move appears to be one centered on brand-building, growing disc golf and hanging out with Hannah in a bunch of Nordic countries, it’s hard for fans to not be selfishly peeved …
No, this isn’t a season-long suck-fest, but it blows – and the season hasn’t even started yet.
Cherish EVERY second of it, Europe …
We’d like him back full-time in 2024.
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You’re exactly right that things feel somewhat lackluster when Paul’s absent. (Although when he’s not playing, since I don’t care much about the outcome, I can just check scores occasionally and feel less stress :-). I feel like Paul plays so much better when he cares about and is excited for the tournaments though, and I hope that’s what we’ll see with him making this bold move with the schedule. I think he’s playing the long game here. Definitely hoping there’s video coverage of the tournaments he’s playing in Europe!
Oh, couldn’t agree more, Rianna …
For starters, European courses are some of the most beautiful in the world …
But on top of that, it’s Paul McBeth – let’s see some of his European-based action!
Fingers crossed it happens 🙂
Corey Ellis will finally get that win he deserves!
And man, does he deserve it …
Right now Paul is barely even in the picture. All it is right now really is the three young chaps: Calvin Heimburg, Gannon Buhr, and Isaac Robinson. Well, on second thought, Calvin is like the same age as Ricky, but he looks, feels, and acts so much younger. But, yeah, you are going to notice when one of them is not showing up.
I hate it for Paul. The first coverage I ever watched was him slaying The Toboggan, so he is naturally one of my all time favorites. By this point last year he had already won 2 tourneys. I just hope he still performs at European Open and Words this year. If he can’t even knock a podium down on either of those, you know his career is slamming on the brakes.
Yeah, but that happens with age …
And here’s what’s craziest about Paul …
This conversation you and I are having?
We’ve had it like five times before about the guy – at least a couple of times.
And then, when you least expect it, he’s back in the winner’s circle.
Not yet ready to write him off, but man …
He needs to do something – and fast.