I don't have all the history of being around DG for decades, so JMO based on observations over the past couple of years.
As DG has had explosive growth, yet Worlds is struggling to find a host and remain the pre-eminent event, seems the PDGA needs to put a bit more effort/ownership in to the event.
I'm Not being critical of what has already happened. The past two years has been novel and in my eyes a monumental shift that couldn't have been predicted.
Maybe actions are being taken and I'm just not paying attention. Certainly looks like the courses for Worlds next year will provide a great event to see.
When I say ownership, I'm referring to what has been discussed here regarding locations choosing not to bid on hosting because the effort is so massive. Lighten the load on the locals in some manner. Might be challenging if you have too many bosses/cooks in the kitchen.
Just seems something needs to change going forward.
Not sure disc golf is "struggling to find hosts" or "to remain the preeminent event." It is clearly the pre-eminent event in the players' minds (And before you come back with Ricky think about what he'd be saying if he had won his third instead of Paul winning his 6th). And they aren't "struggling to find a host" -- they are only "struggling" in the minds of DGCR posters wanting to see other venues besides the ones they see already on tour. Getting Emporia (Dynamic Discs Open), Smuggler's Notch (Green Mountain), The Fort (Utah Open), Peoria (Ledgestone), etc. don't seem to be a problem.
2018 was a fluke year for sure, Barsby & Bjeerkas (Shue) winning
Oh yeah, Barsby "flukily" shot three rounds over 1060 and averaged 1059. At Smuggs? Sheesh :wall:
And mama Paige "flukily" shot a 1028 and Fox Run round 2 and sealed the deal with another 1000 on the final day -- averaging 980 overall. I guess the only real fluke was that Kristin wasn't who she is today back then.
I mean we were all watching -- how many multitudes of bounces went their way!
The point isn't that lower-ranked players who won with fewer rounds didn't deserve their Worlds win.
They played by the rules and completed their rounds with the fewest strokes. We all congratulate them and they have all reaped the reward of their years of practice and hard work.
The point that many of us are making is:
If the purpose of PDGA Worlds is to crown the world's best, most skilled disc golfer, the likelihood is statistically higher with every additional round that is competed.
I think Paul M might have benefited from fewer rounds in 2019, Ricky was charging hard.
With PMs injuries and putting woes, fewer rounds may have helped him again this year.
We'll never know about the past, but many of us would like to see more rounds for Worlds in the future to make it more indicative of a world championship.
Oh, come now. We Americans aren't like that in ANY sport. We like the randomness of "anybody might win" -- in every sport except the NBA series format. Otherwise we laud Cinderellas, and even praise a team finishing 9th in their conference winning March Madness, the 64th team wining the College Worlds Series or an 8-seed wining the Stanley Cup. We LOVE it -- according to the ratings.