It’s World’s Baby!
It’s World’s Baby!
The PDGA World Championships are here, and I think every disc golfer is excited about the possibilities this week. There are many story lines in both divisions, so this week I just want to talk about my own excitement, what I am hoping to see, as well as make some fun predictions based on nothing but my own misguided opinions.
First, let’s talk about the course. I’ve never been to Brewster Ridge or Fox Run Meadows or Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Vermont for that matter, but it is definitely on my bucket list. Both divisions will be playing some of the best disc golf courses on the East Coast, which should set up for some amazing action. Tight woods, long distances, and accurate placement shots mean that this year’s winners will have to show prowess in every aspect of their game.
On the FPO side, the obvious favorite is Kristin Tattar. She’s had a stellar year already, winning all over the world, with her most recent win being the European Championships in her home country of Estonia. But there are plenty of other contenders to consider. Hot off her own big win is Ohn Scoggins who has turned on the heat at the right time and has every chance to win this week. Valerie Mandujano is poised to dominate as she is seemingly fully recovered from her ankle injury. Her sister, Alexis, may also be in contention should her putting show up this week. Hailey King is like a snake in the grass and can strike at any moment. And of course, there are several other Europeans looking to make their mark in the US. Silva Saarinen seems to be unstoppable and can drain putts from any distance. With at least twelve nations representing this week, it’s not unthinkable that we see a non-American bring home the victory. And of course, we must consider any of the many previous champions as contenders. For my outrageous hot take, I’ll predict that Kona Montgomery crushes the competition and takes home the dub in her first event back since her injury.
On the MPO side, is there really a favorite? If you ask ten different disc golfers who is going to win this week, I think you get ten different answers. Calvin Heimberg must be at the top of the list, but just barely ahead of Gannon Buhr. Both have had dominating seasons, and both have the skill set to perform well for five rounds straight. The Robinson brothers both have proven they can play at the top level under the most pressure, with Ezra riding a wave of confidence after winning last week in Rochester. And then there is Kevin Jones who seems to always be in contention only to have the Disc Golf Gods punish him in some way that is completely out of his control. If he can keep it clean, there’s no reason to think he can’t finally close one out. Another player who is *this* close is Anthony Barela. If he can figure out when to be aggressive and when to play smart, he should be right there come Sunday. I can’t forget about the people’s champion, Simon Lizotte. He too has had a great season, and his new sponsorship has only seemed to fuel his efforts to be the world champ. There are so many good players in this division that I could write an entire dissertation about the possibilities, so I’ll stop before this gets too long. But I will make another wild prediction. Matthew Orum finally puts it all together and pulls out the biggest victory of his already illustrious career!
So, who do you have as a lock to win this weekend? What are your most outrageous takes? Will there be any aces? Albatross? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below, let’s have a conversation. Thanks for reading, see you next time.
