Who would win this series?

[optidiscic]

I bring this up as a debate about perception of who the best players in the World are. If I set up a tour with events in the Dakotas, NY State, North Carolina, and Florida and we had 5 players on this tour who would win. I bring it up as a point that some of the best players in the World may not actually be the traveling pros but could be the top regional pros who CHOOSE not to travel anymore. Nodland from the Dakotas, Brinster from the Northeast, Johannsen from North Carolina, Climo from Florida, and the top rated player Ricky Wysocki. I want opinions and discussion as I believe the tour inflates ratings and that several regional guys are as good if not better than many of the better known touring elite. I'd also like to hear about some other regional guys who don't get the national love anymore.opcorn:

 

[Lamp]

Once I saw Johansen at Worlds last year it really opened up my eyes to this topic. He was just so dominant. Your point about ratings inflation is so true, and I believe all of us often times get too caught up in the ratings when determining who the very best or most consistent pro may be. Obviously Johansen was at an advantage on his home turf, but you can't take anything away from his performance, and he was able to utilize his experience and knowledge. Now it would still be difficult to say whether or not Johansen is the top pro, seeing that he usually stays within his own region, but guys like MJ, Brinster, and Nodland are all reasons why we are having this discussion.

 

[bluTDI09]

They are all great players, no question. I think they would all win some of the time. However, I think Ricky has the best all around game right now and has proven it over and over against the best competition in the game.

Also, FWIW, even though you can never count the champ out, JohnE probably fits your description better from Florida.

 

[_MTL_]

Anyone is going to be tougher to beat on their home course(s). It's that simple.

Which is why it's amazing how good touring guys are - they go to people's home courses week in and week out and beat a majority if not all of them.

 

[justactnormal]

Which is why it's amazing how good touring guys are - they go to people's home courses week in and week out and beat a majority if not all of them.

This is off-topic, but so true. When the Wide Open happens it's amazing to watch the MPO and FPO crush the courses that I play and struggle on. It puts their level of play (and mine) in perspective. It seems to me that you can't really appreciate how amazing the shotmaking ability of the touring guys and gals is until you've seen them tear up a course that you've played a bunch on. They're just so darn good, it's amazing.

 

[sidewinder22]

Brinster is touring this year, and all those guys are elite. I think Ricky is still a step above the rest because of his FH and BH combo with ridiculous putting and he has a great mental attitude.

 

[ScottyLove]

Once I saw Johansen at Worlds last year it really opened up my eyes to this topic. He was just so dominant. Your point about ratings inflation is so true, and I believe all of us often times get too caught up in the ratings when determining who the very best or most consistent pro may be. Obviously Johansen was at an advantage on his home turf, but you can't take anything away from his performance, and he was able to utilize his experience and knowledge. Now it would still be difficult to say whether or not Johansen is the top pro, seeing that he usually stays within his own region, but guys like MJ, Brinster, and Nodland are all reasons why we are having this discussion.

I would disagree with the MJ was dominat sentiments. Did have a freakish round 2? YES! Did one of the guys in the poll beat him? YES! In fact beat or tied him on every other round.

So whilst MJ is a cool guy and gets lots of forum love, the facts don't add up your sentiments. Ricky would be beat him 5 out of 6 rounds from what I can tell on most any course.

 

[DiscinFiend]

Brinster is touring this year, and all those guys are elite. I think Ricky is still a step above the rest because of his FH and BH combo with ridiculous putting and he has a great mental attitude.

:thmbup: Rickys ability to throw Backhand & Sidearm is a huge factor why he's a step ahead of his competition.

 

[Lamp]

I would disagree with the MJ was dominat sentiments. Did have a freakish round 2? YES! Did one of the guys in the poll beat him? YES! In fact beat or tied him on every other round.

So whilst MJ is a cool guy and gets lots of forum love, the facts don't add up your sentiments. Ricky would be beat him 5 out of 6 rounds from what I can tell on most any course.

Never said MJ would beat Ricky, I was simply stating how much respect I have for his game. NEVER in that post did I say he was the top pro, but I could definitely see where the OP was coming from by comparing regional pros to the top touring pros. Maybe in the future I will attempt to word my posts in a way where my 'sentiments' add up...

 

[New013]

... I don't think Ricky would beat MJ 5 out of 6 but I do believe Ricky as of now is playing better. Probably because he's devoting more time to DG than MJ and the rest of these guys are. When Ricky's putting is on he's tough to beat.

 

[kcplease]

I'd like to nominate Joe Rovere as a poll option. He is more dominant on his home turf (Colorado) than anyone else I've ever heard of or seen. Here is his PDGA page and here is the last tournament he played. Dominant doesn't begin to describe it.

 

[ScottyLove]

... I don't think Ricky would beat MJ 5 out of 6 but I do believe Ricky as of now is playing better. Probably because he's devoting more time to DG than MJ and the rest of these guys are. When Ricky's putting is on he's tough to beat.

But the evidence says otherwise. I know they don't often play in the same tournaments, but when they have MJ comes out on the short end. Here's a sample... Ricky by 2, 5, 3 and 7 in each of the rounds. Oh yeah... home area advantage no working either.

Charleston Classic

Again... I think MJ is super cool and deserving of all the accolades he gets. I just think the top 5 guys have separated themselves significantly from the rest of the pack. Anthon is the only player outside the top tier that can hang with this crowd.

 

[wake911]

I actually think Mcbeth would win. But really Ricky, Will or Paul would be the best choice for sure. I would take them 3 versus the field in just about any tourney.

 

[ScottyLove]

I actually think Mcbeth would win. But really Ricky, Will or Paul would be the best choice for sure. I would take them 3 versus the field in just about any tourney.

Agreed... I was tossing in Feldberg and Locastro to round out what I consider the top tier. When the tournament has any or all of these guys in it, it's rare that someone else comes out on top. It happens... but not consistent enough.

 

[optidiscic]

I would guess the number of times a top regional pro beats a touring pro happens quite often.....I think Brinster has beaten every top touring pro out there for instance. The point is that the PDGA glamorizes the tour when in reality theres just as much talent that CHOOSES to not tour anymore. I could probably make a team of non-touring regional guys who could easily match/compete with the touring guys...even on neutral ground.

 

[ScottyLove]

I would guess the number of times a top regional pro beats a touring pro happens quite often.....I think Brinster has beaten every top touring pro out there for instance. The point is that the PDGA glamorizes the tour when in reality theres just as much talent that CHOOSES to not tour anymore. I could probably make a team of non-touring regional guys who could easily match/compete with the touring guys...even on neutral ground.

Because I'm addicted to this sport right now, I read every result for every sanctioned tournament every week. So yes it happens... but not that often. I don't think anyone is glamorizing anybody. The facts (unbiased ratings) and the results show otherwise.

Yes... I know it happened this weekend. But I still say that's a rarity.

You pick your team of whomever you want from any part of the country and my team of McBeth, Wysocki, Feldberg, and Locastro will beat your guys 5 of 6 times. Otherwise, some of these local legends would have 1040 ratings and they don't. And I have to have McBeth when the other guys falter like they're prone to do.

 

[optidiscic]

Soooooooo if 10 tour guys play only in tourneys with each other what mathematically happens is their ratings rise ever higher and higher If ten tour guys played your c tier at your home course and all shot around par then the 10 locals would mysteriously get amazing round ratings
Don't tell me the touring guys ratings mean anything because mathematically the ratings favor playing with higher rated players.

 

[optidiscic]

Because I'm addicted to this sport right now, I read every result for every sanctioned tournament every week. So yes it happens... but not that often. I don't think anyone is glamorizing anybody. The facts (unbiased ratings) and the results show otherwise.

Yes... I know it happened this weekend. But I still say that's a rarity.

You pick your team of whomever you want from any part of the country and my team of McBeth, Wysocki, Feldberg, and Locastro will beat your guys 5 of 6 times. Otherwise, some of these local legends would have 1040 ratings and they don't. And I have to have McBeth when the other guys falter like they're prone to do.

i think evidence shows that typically a regional pro beats a handful of the touring guys. Does the local guy typically win. Of course not but he beats a handful of favored touring guys. Of course if there's 6-10 touring guys the odds are that one of them will win. But the 10 touring guys rarely take places 1-10

 

[ScottyLove]

Soooooooo if 10 tour guys play only in tourneys with each other what mathematically happens is their ratings rise ever higher and higher If ten tour guys played your c tier at your home course and all shot around par then the 10 locals would mysteriously get amazing round ratings
Don't tell me the touring guys ratings mean anything because mathematically the ratings favor playing with higher rated players.

Then you don't understand how the ratings system works. That's simply incorrect math. Chuck can educate you on the subject I'm sure.

 

[ScottyLove]

i think evidence shows that typically a regional pro beats a handful of the touring guys. Does the local guy typically win. Of course not but he beats a handful of favored touring guys. Of course if there's 6-10 touring guys the odds are that one of them will win. But the 10 touring guys rarely take places 1-10

And I would NEVER say ALL top 10 spots will be touring pros... that's insane.

Getting back to the point of the poll, however, I'm simply saying the results speak for themselves when comparing the guys in the poll. Anyone can find isolated incidences of anomalies, but over time, the results show that the best players in the world continue to win the tournaments they play in more often than not.