This past weekend, the 2022 Masters was held at Augusta National. One of four annual majors in “ball golf,” the Masters is arguably the most prestigious. To earn a green jacket is to cement your name in the annals of golf history – congrats to Scottie Scheffler on his first major title.
Disc golf does the same thing.
In fact, this weekend, W.R. Jackson will play host to this season’s first PDGA major: the 2022 PDGA Champions Cup in Appling, Ga. For those familiar with the world of ball golf, the term “major” automatically carries with it a certain level of grandeur – in disc golf, though?
Eh, outside of the sport, not so much …
But it’s getting there.
For starters, what exactly IS an MPO or FPO major?
A major isn’t an Elite Series event. It’s not a Silver Series event, either. Similar to what takes place in ball golf, a major championship is viewed as the highest level of competition. Rightfully so, they’re titles coveted by players. Winning one (and only one) is enough to make a career …
If you don’t believe me, just ask the likes of Avery Jenkins, Eric McCabe, Jeremy Koling, Paige Shue and Gregg Barsby – their entire careers are defined by the major titles they’ve won.
The 2022 DGPT calendar will feature five of ‘em:
- Major No. 1 – The PDGA Champions Cup, April 13-17
- Major No. 2 – The United States Women’s Disc Golf Championship, July 1-3
- Major No. 3 – The European Open, July 21-24
- Major No. 4 – The PDGA Pro Disc Golf World Championships, Aug. 30 – Sept. 3
- Major No. 5 – The United States Disc Golf Championship, Oct. 5-8
* Note: The amateur division has majors of its own. This post, however, won’t focus on them.
Next, what MAKES a “major” just that – a major?
1. The highest level of sanctioning and support
A “major” is the highest tournament classification a PDGA-sanctioned event can have.
Not just anybody can host one, though – next to nobody, actually. If you take a look at the PDGA’s “Event Sanctioning Agreement” page, you’ll notice that there’s no “major” option.
They’re THAT exclusive.
To host a major, clubs must submit bids to the PDGA. Only clubs with the game’s most talented and experienced tournament directors are considered. Due to the heightened status of the event, majors are given enhanced support, marketing and media attention from the disc golf world.
2. There’s a broader ‘championship’ element present
Wait, winning any tournament would make you the “champion,” right?
Yes, but major titles usually possess a profound degree of totality:
- Europe
- The PDGA
- Mother Earth
- The United States
In general, major championships bring together a more sizable, all-encompassing professional field. Some of the game’s greatest players might pass on the Des Moines Challenge, but global golfers are skipping births, christenings, weddings and funerals for the first round of a major.
3. Reputation matters, as well as the size of the pro purse
With the exception of this weekend’s inaugural PDGA Champions Cup, most majors have a lengthy history of success. Not counting 2020 (COVID-19), Worlds, for example, has run every year since 1982. USDGC isn’t quite as time-tested, but Rock Hill hasn’t missed a beat since 1999 – not too shabby.
With time comes prominence. Win a major, and you’re no longer just another penny-pinching hippie with a decked-out van and a backpack full of frisbees – you’re a massive part of history.
In a low-income sport like disc golf, the payout for majors is hefty and deep – and it never ends. Sponsors award big bonuses. Disc manufacturers run signature frisbees for their athletes. And come time for new contract negotiations, leverage is on the side of the golfer – that’s a rarity.
Win a major. Become a legend.
It only takes one event.
One more thing to keep in mind …
With the DGPT now the official tour of the PDGA, major championships no longer operate independently of the DGPT. In other words, if you take down a major, you’re earning DGPT points – and lots of them. Points-wise, win a single major title, and it’s the equivalent of taking home top prize at 1.5 Elite Series events – for a complete breakdown of DGPT points, click here.
As you can see, there’s not one thing that sets majors apart from everything else …
But the following’s for certain: For a professional disc golfer, NOTHING matters more.
The PDGA Champions Cup will be must-watch, drama-packed viewing – don’t miss out.
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