From the desk of Owl P. Jackson, Esq.

April 26, 2023 by Owl P. Jackson, Esq. in Opinion, Recap with comments

The world’s best disc golfers—at least the ones who registered on time—descended on the International Disc Golf Center for the year’s first major. Their eyes began to focus on the weekend’s most coveted, realistic prize—second place. In my opinion, these are the top 10 storylines of the 2023 PDGA Champions Cup.

1. Isaac Robinson gets his first major

“He said he’s going back to find what’s left of his world—the world he left behind not so long ago. He’s leaving on that midnight train to Georgia. Said he’s going back to a simpler place and time.”

It was a slow start to the season for Isaac—82nd at Las Vegas, 45th at WACO, 25th at Austin, 52nd at Texas States. He seems to be back on track, racking up three straight top-10 finishes. This weekend was reminiscent of last year’s excellent Idlewild performance. It all comes down to this: when Isaac Robinson is on, it feels like nobody can touch him. Even the tree kicks seem to land in his favor. He shredded the woods, led wire-to-wire, and made W.R. Jackson look like my local 9-hole. What a homecoming for the first-time major winner!

2. Redemption for Kristin Tattar

“And I’ll be with him on that midnight train to Georgia.”

Last year, Kristin Tattar gave this major away. This year, she won by 14 strokes. Is there anything else that needs to be said? When you see Kristin play this well, you begin to wonder if she will ever lose another tournament. Obviously, she will lose eventually. Something has to happen…right? Then again, how bad would she have to play? By Tattar’s standards, even on a weekend when she is off her game, she is still the clear favorite. Watching her this weekend was watching excellence, but I wouldn’t blame you if you turned off FPO after the second round. It was already over.

3. Silas Schultz steals the show

“He kept dreaming, oh, that someday he’d be a star.”

If you knew Silas Schultz before this weekend, it was probably as a side character in the Alden Harris vlog or as that guy with the cool Instagram. But with MPO and FPO blowouts, it was Silas Schultz who kept things interesting. The audible snap as he launches discs through gaps harder than anyone else, the thrift store headgear, confidently picking up his mini before the putt hits…