Some American pros also speaking out against the scheduling decision
November 18, 2023 by Charlie Eisenhood in News with 0 comments
Don’t mark the new Champions Cup dates in pen on your calendar.
A growing chorus of European and American pro disc golfers have complained about the newly scheduled late June dates for Champions Cup because they conflict with the Swedish Open, a European DGPT event, in the middle of a growing European swing.
“This is not good,” wrote Eagle McMahon on Facebook in response to the PDGA’s date change. “A lot of players were looking forward to the European tour. RESCHEDULE THE RESCHEDULE!”
Earlier, top European players like Niklas Anttila and Väinö Mäkelä voiced their displeasure on Instagram, as both players had planned to be in Europe for Swedish Open and beyond. Paul McBeth also suggested in a Facebook comment that he would play in Europe and skip the Champions Cup.
Following the outcry, the PDGA is considering another rescheduling, the organization confirmed to Ultiworld Disc Golf. There are no specific dates being targeted at this time.
“PDGA Europe has expressed their opinion and conveyed the feedback from European members to the PDGA,” new PDGA Europe General Manager Jusso Nieminen wrote in a European player Facebook group. “They are aware of the issues this change would cause, and…the situation is currently being reviewed.”
The PDGA’s original press release did not acknowledge the schedule conflict with the European DGPT event. There are also a number of other European tournaments before (Turku Open) and after (Finnish and Estonian Nationals) that could be impacted if players choose to remain in the US to play in the major.
Currently, players will have to choose between playing events in the Midwest swing of the US tour or to head to Europe in advance of the European Open in mid-July. But the DGPT has elevated five European events to full point-earning status, making a longer Euro tour more realistic for pros seeking to earn a spot in the DGPT Championship.
“We have one stretch outside of US next year and now we have a Major in US at the same time,” Anttila told Ultiworld Disc Golf. “Doesn’t make any sense. Seems like they don’t care about Europe. There won’t be any Americans playing the early part of the DGPT Europe now. I might skip Champions Cup and play in Europe. I care about Majors more than anything, but this feels wrong.”
Paul McBeth became the first top American player to take a significant European trip, when he traveled across the Atlantic in 2023 for seven tournaments throughout June and July, skipping a number of DGPT stops.
