Disc Golf World Rankings Return with New Calculation System

After a five-year hiatus, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is excited to bring back the Official Disc Golf World Rankings (ODGWR). The new calculation system was devised by the PDGA team in collaboration with Mark Broadie, developer of the current formula used in the Official World Golf Ranking, and Dylan Bierne of SportEdge. The relaunch comes as a result of ongoing efforts to create a modern and accurate ranking system that caters to the unique characteristics of disc golf.

The ODGWRs were initially suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to inconsistent events and unpredictable travel restrictions. To bridge this gap, the PDGA introduced the U.S. Tour rankings, which focused solely on U.S.-based events. However, with the return of international competitions and a robust schedule of Elite Series and PDGA Major events, the time has come for the Official Disc Golf World Rankings to make their comeback.

"The PDGA is proud to be the chroniclers of disc golf history," said Peter Crist, PDGA director of technology. "World Rankings and Championships are fundamental parts of our story and the game's narrative." The new ODGWRs aim to provide a fair and accurate representation of professional disc golfers worldwide by incorporating decades of proven traditional golf rankings with tailored adjustments for disc golf.

The new calculation system will debut alongside the 2024 Disc Golf Pro Tour season, with updates scheduled every Wednesday following an Elite event or PDGA Major. This new model prioritizes recent performances, giving a higher weighted value to the most recent results over the past 104 weeks. Higher-tier events will also carry more significance, with PDGA Majors at the top of the scale.

The revamped rankings will feature only Elite Series and PDGA Major event results in their inaugural edition. Mark Broadie, one of the masterminds behind the new system, shared his insights on the project's development and how it differs from traditional golf. "We took a proven formula used by professional golf tours worldwide and tailored it to meet disc golf's unique demands," he explained.

The PDGA's Pro Touring Players Committee contributed valuable feedback during the planning stages of the project. Luke Humphries, a committee member, expressed his enthusiasm for the new system: "Having the right people creating the right system is crucial. Using a similar model as the PGA tour and World Golf Rankings will undoubtedly elevate disc golf."

As part of this revitalized effort, expect in-depth analysis of the mathematical model and new features to be introduced on the platform throughout 2024.

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This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/official-disc-golf-world-rankings-return