Ranking the 2021 Pro Events by Excitement Level

It's pretty tough to keep track of all the pro events that go on each year, but there are certain tournaments or courses that never seem to disappoint. I went through the 2021 combined touring schedule (DGPT, PDGA Pro/National Tour) and ranked my top 5 events by how excited I am to watch them. If you disagree, let me hear it on Twitter @DgOverturned. Let's get to it...

1 - USDGC

Winthrop Gold never disappoints. It's such a beautiful, well-designed course and it really tests players for the entire tournament. Besides being one of the most prestigious championships in disc golf, it has all the drama that makes watching sports the best. No player is going to feel comfortable until they land in bounds on hole 17 of the final round, no matter how big their lead is up to that point. I got to play Winthrop earlier this year and it kicked my ass, without the OB even being set up. Regardless, it'll be cool to see the pros play it after I was able to see the campus course in person. Chris Dickerson took the title in 2020, but I think we should keep an eye out for Uli this year at Winthrop after he shot a blazing -9 in the final round this year to end up in 7th overall at USDGC. Check out last year's action from Rock Hill, SC:

2 - PDGA World Championships

After 2020 Worlds got cancelled, I immediately got excited for the 2021 tournament. A world championship is, undoubtedly, the highest title a pro disc golfer can achieve. McBeth is gonna be hungry to add another stripe on his McBeast discs for sure, but there are a lot of guys who are gonna want to get their name etched in history alongside his. The tournament will be held in Ogden, Utah at The Fort and Dynamic Discs course at Mulligans. From what I've seen online from .these courses The Fort is pretty tight and wooded and Mulligans is much longer and more open, so whoever plays well enough to take the title will have to show off a variety of shots and skills. Ricky has had success at the Utah Open, so keep an eye out for him at Worlds this year. Check out the 2019 Utah Open which took place at the same two courses:

3 - MVP Open

Maple Hill is, in my opinion, the best disc golf course in the world (Blogger's Note: there are many courses I have never been to). I have been lucky enough to play Maple twice and there is just something in the air in Leicester, Mass. that makes you smile through the whole round, even while racking up large scores. This tournament has so many iconic moments and holes and I love the tradition of the winners jumping in the pond to conclude the weekend. Maple Hill is not an easy course by any means, but some pros always bring the heat and post some insane scores, so it makes for fun watching every year. McBeth took home the title in 2020 after Ricky struggled in his final round, so I wouldn't be surprised if Wysocki is hungry for some revenge this year. Check out the final round here (and be sure to watch McBeth's final putt on 18 because it's sick):

4 - Green Mountain Championship

Smuggler's Notch is a bucket lister for me, personally. The courses are gorgeous and look difficult as hell, but so many pros have mentioned this tournament as one of their favorites. Kevin Jones won the event in 2020 with a relatively comfortable margin throughout the whole weekend. This is another tournament that feels like anyone can win because there is such a large variety of shots, so it's hard to make a prediction before we see anybody play in 2021. Here's the ending to 2020's tournament:

5 - DGPT Championship

This one is another no-brainer because of the massive implications. It was awesome to see the event on ESPN this year, so it felt really special to the disc golf community as a whole. Hornets Nest is brutal no matter how well you throw. I have been able to play a round at the signature course in North Carolina, although the tournament layout is definitely a lot more challenging. It feels like disc golf should, with trees everywhere, tight lines, forehand and backhand holes, and cool basket placements (including raised ones, get over it Hannum). After KJUSA took home the big pay day, I'd expect some vengeance is on the mind of Calvin. I also just love the format of this tournament because it really amplifies those players that have been crushing it all season. Here's the final round of 2020's round at Hornet's Nest:

Obviously, there are plenty of other honorable mentions like Las Vegas Open (first of the year), WACO, Ledgestone, and the Beaver State Fling. Let me know which tournaments get you the most excited on Twitter @DgOverturned.