🗻 The pinnacle of disc golf

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter where The Champ is the 1st thing we think of when hearing the letters KC.

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If you missed USDGC’s preview, then I got you: Season Changes

Let’s get into it.

TOUR COVERAGE
USDGC / Throw Pink

RESULTS - 🏆KYLE KLEIN & HOLYN HANDLEY

Steeped in tradition, the USDGC is the pinnacle of every season. And in its 25th year, the prestige could be felt from the opening ceremony through the final 4min 20sec walk between holes 16 & 17.

In no particular order, here are the storylines you should remember or you may have missed:

1 - The Champ was welcomed with open arms.

Having Ken Climo (5x US & 12x World Champ) on the grounds of Winthrop Arena had everyone excited. In the days leading up, every pro had a picture with The Champ on their socials.

When he joined Ian Anderson & Philo Brathwaite in the booth, the excitement was felt through the TV. Philo was amped up that 1st day but eventually brought it down, and the 3-headed coverage was applauded by the event’s end.

It was clear that Climo enjoyed his weekend and hopes to continue his way back into the sport’s mainstream. Now that the Tour and his personal life have stabled out, there’s definitely room to bring him back as a color commentator for Majors.

2 - Major vibes and excitement for a non-Major.

After only 3 years of playing, Handley has earned her 1st Tour win. And to everyone’s surprise (including herself), she did it from the chase card.

In a flow state, Handley went hot on Sunday and unknowingly set herself up for the win. But even for the #4 FPO, she had zero expectations of winning early in her career.

Back in August, she told Overthrow DG that she’s only focused on improving her game knowing that the wins will come. But when you stick Hole 17’s island in a 2-hole playoff, then clearly the patience has paid off.

Not only did she celebrate the biggest win of her career, but she gave her best friend - Ella Hansen - a makeover. All season long, they had a standing bet on winning their 1st Elite/Major with the loser dyeing their hair.

And with any major event, there’s always a little controversy… Before the playoff was established, Handley nervously threw OB on Hole 18 and received a generous lie to finish out her -10 (1035 rated) round.

Right call? Wrong call? It’s sports, and Handley’s big win will only jumpstart her career. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

3 - It’s a new era in USDGC history.

Over in MPO, the weekend went a bit unexpected. The top players weren’t really in contention and took their time filtering to notable finishes.

Come the final round, there weren’t many who predicted Klein with a 3-stroke lead and only Bradley Williams in reach. In fact, it was the 1st time ever that zero former winners were in the Top 15 heading into Sunday.

But with the strange situation, Klein was the favorite to win not because of play but because of history. Since winning 2019 US AMs, he’s finished in USDGC’s Top 10 every year including a playoff loss to McBeth in 2021.

Now as a Major winner & $30k richer, Klein has capped off a bumpy season. In the summer, he had a 2-month stretch of severe back pain that resulted in missed cashes and even a DNF during The Preserve.

But even with the injury, this young star has fought hard to show up at the Majors. After losing by just 1 stroke at the European Open, he had this to say…

4 - The FPO ceiling is being broken.

This is it. We’re seeing the potential ceiling of FPO rise to higher levels with the power throwers figuring out the short game.

While the Finnish Friends (Salonen & Blomroos) have started to find confidence in their putts, the American Besties (Handley & Hansen) are learning to play “golf”.

But the real breakthrough is in a 16-year-old from Georgia. Just 3 months ago, Elie Midtlyng won the girls’ junior ≤18 Worlds then followed that up by beating Hansen at the Pro Worlds' Long Drive contest.

Midtlyng can rip a disc over 70mph and 530’. But distance comps aside, she showed off her on-course power by carding the 1st ever eagle on Hole 18 and going over the water on Hole 5 in 2 shots.

If or when she hits the Tour full-time, she’s going to be a menace. FPO’s future is bright.

HIGHLIGHT

From Scoober Salutes to dream aces, USDGC has more highlights than any event. But the best one goes to the 21-year-old out of Alabama.

The FH specialist Sully Tipton earned himself many fans while on the lead card for 3 rounds. Remember his name as he’ll be graduating and hitting the Tour hard next year.

POWERED BY POWERGRIP USA
Fresh Plastic

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: Axiom Discs Total Eclipse Releases
Runner-up to April Fools, Halloween is disc golf’s 2nd favorite holiday.

MVP is getting into the spirit with 2 special edition releases. Starting tomorrow (10/11) at 11 AM ET, you can finally get your hands on these Total Eclipse discs (glow flight plate AND rim):

• Lizotte’s Halloween Hex (5|5|-1|1) - While this dead-straight mid is a staple in any Gyronaut’s bag, people are going crazy over the stamps. You can choose between the Lizzotl’ Vampire, Viking, Elvis, or skeleton

• Total Eclipse Proxy (3|3|-1|0.5) - This slightly US throwing putter is beloved by many. But in this specific plastic, you won’t find a straighter putter out of the box

DISTANCE FORM & PUTTING TIPS
Random Dubs

1️⃣ Get over your USDGC blues with this slow-mo of Hjalte Jensen’s distance showcase form. In his 1st time here, the Danish bomber threw 645 ft to qualify for the US Distance Competition finals.

To further quench your blues, today the Legends Skins Match that took place on Friday between Ken Climo, Barry Schultz, Will Schusterick, & Nate Sexton drops today on DGN.

Those in-person described this short 9-hole event as the weekend’s highlight. I can only imagine the hype felt watching The Champ park Hole 7’s iconic clown’s mouth.

2️⃣ Last Monday, Luke Callaghan shot a -4 at Winthrop to qualify and play in the USDGC. Days later, the 19-year-old had trouble replicating his hot score and got pointers from 2005 winner Dave Feldberg.

Feldberg noticed 2 things in Callaghan’s putt that gave him a tendency to miss low.

1. During the downswing, he dropped his arm too quickly. Slowing down would allow for a consistent release point

2. Because of his quick downswing, his wrist extends too far out. The putt comes out very nose down and hits the cage

Tweet of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and soak in disc golf this week!

- Charlie