Today marks the start of the first of five major disc golf championships we will see this season. It got me thinking: Who am I expecting to make some big noise at MPO major tourneys this year?
The easy, yawn-inducing answers are always Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki …
And with good reason – McBeth’s done some stuff:
- He’s won the European Open five times – imagine that, an American.
- He’s won Worlds five times and taken second on four different occasions, as well.
- He’s won the U.S. Disc Golf Championship three times with one second-place finish.
Wysocki, too:
- He’s won Worlds twice and taken second four times.
- He’s never won USDGC, but he’s finished on the podium five times.
- He’s never won the European Open, either. Still, five podium finishes is solid work.
Stunningly impressive accomplishments, to say the least. It’s a mega-safe bet: If a major championship is up for grabs, Paul’s finishing in the top two – and Rick won’t be far behind.
Or some iteration of that …
You get what I’m saying.
Here’s the deal, though: The professional disc golf landscape is more diverse than ever.
In the history of our young sport, the MPO field has never been stronger. And it will keep getting stronger. Long gone are the days of “McBeth and Wysocki vs. The World” as the main event.
Check this out: In 2019, before the boom of COVID-19, Paul played in 23 total events, winning 14 of them and coming in second five times. Ricky played in 22 events, nabbing the top prize in four of ‘em with seven second-place finishes. Plain and simple, that’s leaderboard domination.
Since the restart in 2021, though?
Still shockingly impressive, but different – and (kind of) in the wrong direction:
- Paul – 30 events. 9 wins. 4 second-place finishes.
- Ricky – 29 events. 7 wins. 7 second-place finishes.
Some quick math: McBeth went from winning 61% of the time in 2019 to accomplishing the same feat only 30% of the time since the start of the 2021 season. On the other hand, Wysocki did win more often than before and was a top-two finisher at relatively the same clip …
In majors, however, over the 2021 season and change, he has back-to-back, third-place finishes at USDGC and was seventh (gasp) at Worlds last year in Ogden, Utah. This much you can take to the bank: As the rest of the field gains ground, already sliding ever so slightly, the level of dominance McBeth and Wysocki have known for years will be tough to maintain.
Up next?
Calvin “Veni, Vidi, Vici” Heimburg.
Vinny is unquestionably the best player right now to have never won a major. And slow your roll: Eagle McMahon is injured. At this point, we don’t know how long he’ll be hobbled.
Calvin’s been close, coming in second to Chris Dickerson during a downpour at the 2020 USDGC. In spite of it, he knows how to win on the big stage, with recent victories at the Las Vegas Challenge, the Vintage Open, the Jonesboro Open, the Ledgestone Insurance Open and the DGPT Match Play Championship. He captained a team to victory over All-Star Weekend, too.
Outside of Paul and Ricky, nobody is a more consistent, top-five finisher than Heimburg. Because of it, thus far in 2022, he has the second-most DGPT points in the MPO field.
He throws far. He putts well.
The putter was HOT this weekend for Calvin Heimburg. pic.twitter.com/kPNLofEqpV
— Disc Golf Pro Tour (@DiscGolfProTour) March 29, 2022
It’s only a matter of time for Calvin …
All MPO golfers will soon have started their Champions Cup experience at W.R. Jackson. The last time Heimburg competed there was at the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic – how did things go?
He took it down.
Furthermore, Worlds will be held in Emporia this year. Calvin’s finished in the top five at the Dynamic Discs Open (or Glass Blown Open) each of the last three seasons. And clearly, for reasons already mentioned, Rock Hill is a course the guy’s comfortable with …
Just don’t ask about the 17th hole – it’s (still) too soon.
Paul and Ricky are really good – like, it’s scary. But unlike what we saw from roughly 2012 to 2019, nowadays, a host of other talented disc golfers deserve their fair share of recognition, as well. The rest of the world is hot on the heels of the two guys who put disc golf on the map …
Calvin is going to prove it this season – and in a MAJOR (wink, wink) way.
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