From the desk of Owl P. Jackson, Esq.

June 27, 2022 by Owl P. Jackson, Esq. in Opinion with comments

Birdies and eagles and (trophies of) bears, oh my! The crowds were “Minnesota nice,” but that doesn’t mean I have to be “Minnesota humble.” In that aforementioned lack of humility, these are the top 10 storylines of the 2022 Preserve Championship.

1. Live disc golf

“This isn’t a hockey game; it’s a circus.”

I’m not weighing in on the live vs. post-produced debate here. I like both and believe both have a place in the future of coverage. But…if you weren’t watching live this weekend, you missed out on so much of the drama. Watching any one card could only give a dreadfully incomplete version of this tournament’s story. Simon fighting his way back into contention on day 2? Hole-by-hole leaderboard shuffling? Third card throw-ins?¹ Ricky’s relentless final-day pursuit? When tournaments play out like this one did, live coverage is a must.

2. Bradley Williams back on top

“But, guys, I’ve been there. I know how you feel.”

Calm, cool, and collected. Smooth and methodical. Bradley made the comment multiple times that it felt like fate was dragging him along this weekend. Maybe he was right. His win came six years (to the day!) since his last Pro Tour win: the 2016 Vibram Open. In the end, Bradley won because he played solid and consistent each round. There were better single rounds from other players, but Bradley strung three days together and came out on top.

3. The return of Ricky Wysocki

“If we can’t beat them, we might as well keep our pride.”

Golf fans will be familiar with the “Tiger roar.” Cheers from the crowd would echo through the course as Tiger Woods made his charge on the final day. Players started to shake in their boots. On a much smaller scale, that happened this weekend as Ricky Wysocki hit putt after putt until those raptor legs emerged. Ricky fought all the way to a share of the lead but eventually fell short when he threw out-of-bounds on 18. Ricky’s Lyme disease flareup kept him out the Portland Open, Beaver State Fling, and the Match Play Championship. With so many big-name players missing time this season, it was good to see him back in action. Sockibomb is back, baby!

4. Paige goes wire-to-wire

“No matter what people say or do…we have to be ourselves.”

Paige “don’t call me…