Simon Lizotte Roars Back to Victory with Emotional OTB Open Win

After a four-year drought without an Elite Series victory, Simon Lizotte finally broke through to claim his first title since the 2018 Memorial Championships. This impressive achievement came just days after his son Emmett celebrated his 100th day on earth, making it a truly special moment for the devoted father and disc golf star.

Lizotte's comeback story began at last year's OTB Open, where he returned to competition following a triceps tendinopathy diagnosis that forced him to take time off after the 2020 United States Disc Golf Championship. Although his elbow still sports a trusty brace, it showed no signs of trouble during this week's tournament.

Throughout the weekend, Lizotte dominated from distance, earning top spot in strokes gained tee-to-green with an impressive 20.71 according to Udisc. As he entered the final round with a slender one-throw lead over Anthony Barela and a talented leaderboard featuring names like Calvin Heimburg and Drew Gibson, it seemed anyone could still emerge victorious.

However, Lizotte swiftly dispelled this notion with a scorching hot start to the last round. On the first three holes, he secured a rare "turkey" (three consecutive pars), while birdieing four of the next five holes. Barela and Heimburg, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, allowing Lizotte to build a commanding lead.

Although he faltered somewhat during round 2's back nine, Lizotte made significant adjustments to his putting style in this tournament – embracing a more controlled aggression that ultimately paid dividends. The key moment came when he opted for a high-lofting push putt instead of his usual spin putt, which commentator Philo Brathwaite humorously dubbed the "dad putt."

This shift marked a turning point in Lizotte's performance, as he birdied six out of seven holes from hole 8 onwards. The highlight of this impressive run was undoubtedly the clutch putt on hole 11, where he sank a shot from the edge of the circle heading back towards the water.

Following his final putt, Lizotte, never one to shy away from drama, sprinted around the perimeter of the 18th green, high-fiving ecstatic fans in celebration. This electrifying display perfectly encapsulated the joy and elation that comes with winning – especially for a devoted father like Lizotte who was celebrating a major milestone just days prior.

The OTB Open win marks a significant return to form for one of disc golf's most beloved champions, cementing Lizotte's reputation as a force to be reckoned with on the course.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/new-dad-simon-lizotte-wins-otb-open