Texas Takes Center Stage! Top Storylines & How to Watch Barbasol’s Open at Austin
The first DGPT+ stop of the 2026 season has arrived, and all eyes turn to Texas for Barbasol’s Open at Austin presented by Hampton Inn/Home2 Suites Austin East. Returning in an elevated spotlight, this year’s event brings four days of competition across two distinct venues, with rounds at Sprinkle Valley to open the week (Thursday and Friday) before shifting to Harvey Penick (Saturday and Sunday) for the weekend finale. The Disc Golf Pro Tour also welcomes Barbasol as title sponsor, continuing a partnership that began in 2022, along with Home2 Suites Austin East as the presenting partner, keeping players and fans close to the action.
ℹ️ Click here to view the 2026 Open at Austin – Sprinkle Valley Caddie Book
ℹ️ Click here to view the 2026 Open at Austin – Harvey Penick Caddie Book
The dual-course setup offers a true contrast in style. Sprinkle Valley delivers a modern, technical challenge with creative shot shaping, island landing zones, and elevated targets that reward precision. Harvey Penick shifts the focus to distance and control, featuring wide open fairways that invite big drives while still demanding accuracy in key moments. Together, they set the stage for a dynamic test as the Tour’s top players take on Austin in one of the season’s most unique formats.
Here is how you can tune in and follow all the action this weekend…
WEATHER THIS WEEKEND
For any weather-related updates, delays, or safety information, check the DGPT Event Status Updates page.
OPEN AT AUSTIN: FPO LOOKAHEAD
- FPO1 Feature Card: Holyn Handley, Eveliina Salonen, Valerie Mandujano, & Paige Pierce
- FPO2 Feature Card: Ohn Scoggins, Catrina Allen, Lykke Lorentzen, & Lisa Fajkus
Here’s a look at the top FPO storylines headed into this weekend…
1️⃣ Eveliina Salonen Heats Up
Eveliina Salonen enters Austin coming off her 10th career Major and Elite Series victory at KCWO, a result that ties her for 10th all-time with Holyn Handley. The win was defined by an eight-stroke comeback, the largest in FPO M/ES history. Her track record in Austin includes a share of the lowest score ever recorded at Sprinkle Valley, where she shot -7 (58) during the 2024 U.S. Women’s Disc Golf Championship (USWDGC). Currently sitting in 7th place in the DGPT Powerball World Standings with momentum on her side and proven scoring ability on one of this week’s courses, Salonen arrives as a player capable of carrying that form into another title run.
2️⃣ Holyn Handley Looks to Reassert Control
A tied fifth at KCWO counts as Holyn Handley’s lowest placement of the season, which says more about her consistency than anything else. She is the only player to record a top-10 finish at every Major and Elite Series event this year and currently leads the DGPT standings by more than 100 points. Austin has also been a strong fit for her game, highlighted by a win last season and a 1029-rated, 8-under round at Harvey Penick, one of the best performances of her career. Given that profile, another high finish is well within expectation, with the more meaningful question being how much further she can extend her lead in the Player of the Year race.
3️⃣ Ohn Scoggins Keeps on Rolling
Ohn Scoggins has built one of the most consistent seasons in the field, winning 6 of the 10 events she has entered across all tiers and finishing no worse than fourth, including a win at Waco last week. Her history in Austin reinforces that level of play. She took down the event in 2024 and holds the course record at Harvey Penick with a 13-under 53, and was one of only two players to record multiple 1000-rated rounds here in 2025. Combined with the largest active top-10 streak at 19 events, Scoggins brings both course history and current form that position her as a central figure on the leaderboard.
4️⃣ Sprinkle Valley & Harvey Penick: A Tale of Two Tracks
The Open at Austin continues to present two distinct challenges across its courses. Sprinkle Valley has historically produced higher scoring averages, with even-par rounds exceeding a 1000 rating as recently as 2025. In contrast, Harvey Penick has allowed for separation, highlighted by multiple rounds above 1020 and Scoggins’ course-record 13-under performance in 2024. Players such as Missy Gannon and Eveliina Salonen have demonstrated the ability to score at Sprinkle, each posting 1027-rated rounds there during the 2024 USWDGC. Success this week will likely depend on managing the early rounds at Sprinkle before capitalizing on scoring opportunities at Harvey Penick.
5️⃣ The Race Tightens at the Top
The DGPT standings reflect both separation at the top and increasing pressure behind it. Holyn Handley leads by more than 100 points, but Ohn Scoggins remains within range, while a group including Silva Saarinen, Henna Blomroos, and Missy Gannon continues to close the gap. At the same time, consistency streaks are shifting. Saarinen’s Top-10 streak came to an end at KCWO, while Scoggins and Gannon continue to extend their own runs. With six unique winners already this season, the broader trend points toward parity, leaving Austin as a potential inflection point in how the standings take shape moving forward.
OPEN AT AUSTIN: MPO LOOKAHEAD
- MPO1 Feature Card: Niklas Anttila, Cole Redalen, Simon Lizotte, & Mason Ford
- MPO2 Feature Card: Kyle Klein, Jaden Rye, Colton Lawless, & Paul Krans
Here’s a look at the top MPO storylines headed into this weekend…
1️⃣ Niklas Anttila Eyes Three-Peat
Niklas Anttila enters Austin with a chance to secure a third consecutive title at this event, having won in both 2024 and 2025. His first Elite Series victory came here in 2024, and he has since added five more Tour event wins, along with his first career PDGA Pro Major at the 2026 Champions Cup. Anttila’s 2025 victory required a playoff against Kyle Klein, reinforcing his ability to close under pressure on this stage. He also leads the MPO field this season in reaching C2 in Regulation at 67%. With six career Major and Elite Series wins (13th all time in MPO), Anttila arrives with both course history and a growing resume that continues to trend upward.
2️⃣ Gannon Buhr Leads the Charge
The Open at Austin marks the first DGPT+ stop of the 2026 season, increasing the stakes with a 33% boost in available Tour points. In 2023, this event was Buhr’s first DGPT victory. Gannon Buhr arrives with a commanding lead of roughly 250 points in the standings, built on a season where he has not finished outside the top five across six starts. He leads the MPO field in wins, podiums, scoring average, and nearly every key performance metric, including birdie rate (49.85%) and scramble percentage (77%). Through 6 events, there are only four players who have beaten Gannon Buhr in an event this season: Ricky Wysocki (SFO and KCWO), Cole Redalen (KCWO), Calvin Heimburg (KCWO), and Niklas Anttila (Champions Cup). With a win, Buhr would move into solo fifth place on the all-time Major and Elite Series wins list, adding further weight to an already dominant start.
3️⃣ The Cole Redalen Wild Card
Cole Redalen’s season has followed a sharp upward trajectory, culminating in a win at KCWO. That victory marked his third career Elite Series win and continued a pattern where his best finishes have produced wins rather than consistent placements. Over his last eight events, he has recorded just two top-15 finishes, both victories, while also missing cash three times. His 2026 results show steady improvement, moving from 84th at SFO to first at KCWO. Redalen’s best finish at Austin is sixth in 2024, and his recent form suggests a player capable of contending again, though with a wider range of outcomes than most.
4️⃣ Ricky Wysocki Keeps Pressure On
Ricky Wysocki remains one of the few players consistently capable of disrupting Gannon Buhr’s run. He is the only player to finish ahead of Buhr multiple times this season, with a win at SFO and a runner-up finish at KCWO where Buhr placed fourth. Wysocki also brings a strong history in Texas, leading all MPO players with four Major and Elite Series wins in the state. While he has not won this event since it moved to Austin, his track record and current form still position him as a central contender in a field where closing the gap on Buhr has proven difficult for most.
5️⃣ Survive Then Score
The Open at Austin continues to demand two distinct skill sets across Sprinkle Valley and Harvey Penick. Sprinkle Valley has produced some of the toughest scoring on tour, including hole 18 playing more than a full stroke over par in 2025, the only hole across all Elite Series events to reach that mark. Harvey Penick, by contrast, has allowed for separation, highlighted by Gannon Buhr’s course-record 14-under 49 in 2024. Success this week will likely depend on limiting damage at Sprinkle Valley before capitalizing on scoring opportunities over the final two rounds.
All the action starts on Thursday, May 7th! Tune in to the Disc Golf Network and catch post-pro coverage from JomezPro all weekend.
HOW TO WATCH BARBASOL’S OPEN AT AUSTIN:
Barbasol’s Open at Austin presented by Hampton Inn/Home2 Suites Austin East | PDGA Event Page
Official scores, tee times, PDGA Live scoring, and round ratings can be found on the official event page on PDGA.com.
DISC GOLF NETWORK BROADCAST TIMES
Live daily broadcasts from Thursday 5/07 – Sunday 5/10
- FPO Coverage begins with Tournament Central at 9:30 am CDT / 10:30 am EDT / 7:30 AM (PDT) / 5:30 pm EEST (Finland)
- MPO Coverage begins with Tournament Central at 3:00 pm CDT / 4:00 pm EDT / 1:00 PM (PDT) / 11:00 pm EEST (Finland)
WATCH THE FIRST HOUR FREE ON YOUTUBE THIS YEAR!
As announced at the start of the season, thanks to our new partnership with Powerball, fans can watch even more disc golf for free this season! The first hour of every round will stream free on YouTube, and full Round 1 coverage is still available at no cost on Disc Golf Network. Fans can simply create a free account at www.discgolfnetwork.com and select DGN Free from the list of available options to enjoy complete round one coverage without having to enter payment information.
LIVE SCORES AND STATS
Live scores and stats will also be available on both the DGPT website and on PDGA Live all weekend.
WATCH THE PROS IN PERSON!
The DGPT and Open at Austin team are excited to invite spectators to watch the top disc golfers in the world compete for a title! There’s nothing like seeing Anthony Barela launch a 500-foot bomb, Ohn Scoggins draining a long putt, or witnessing a first-time Tour winner in person. Treat yourself or a fellow fan to an unforgettable experience and watch the world’s best compete at a DGPT event near you!
🗓️ Click here to view the full Open at Austin event schedule!
Find tickets and details at tickets.dgpt.com or click below to explore options like General Admission Passes, Fairway VIP Passes, Silver VIP Passes, Gold VIP Passes, and more.
BARBASOL’S OPEN AT AUSTIN PRESS CONFERENCE
Watch the 2026 Open at Austin press conference on Disc Golf Network or the DGPT YouTube channel! Hear from recent Tour champions Cole Redalen and Eveliina Salonen, defending champions Niklas Anttila and Holyn Handley, Tour Director Jeff Spring, and more ahead of the event.
DGPT BETTING & DAILY FANTASY GUIDE: GAMING OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK
Your picks are waiting! Disc golf fans now have the opportunity to engage in various gaming opportunities, including Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and regulated sports wagering. Check out NXTbet’s event analysis for the top bets and picks ahead of the weekend.
Click the button below to see winner odds, expert picks, finishing positions, and more for Barbasol’s 2026 Open at Austin…
WHERE TO BET ON DGPT
Fans can visit nxtbets.com/playdgpt to view available gaming opportunities in their location and learn more about how to play DFS & Legal Sports Betting on DGPT events. Regulatory approval at the state level is required to offer gaming in each jurisdiction, and additional states will be added as approvals are secured.
In addition to exploring currently available opportunities, fans can read more about how to wager on the Disc Golf Pro Tour in NXTbets.com’s ultimate how-to guide. This educational resource provides information on how to research and choose a gaming platform or sportsbook, overviews the different kinds of wagering options available, explains how odds work in disc golf, and offers strategies for successful wagering.
Remember: The Disc Golf Pro Tour has strict rules governing who can and cannot bet on professional disc golf. Tour and tournament staff, volunteers, rules officials, and players are explicitly prohibited from participating in wagering. These rules help maintain the integrity of the game and ensure a safe, regulated betting environment for both fans and players. Additionally, the DGPT partners closely with IC360, a leading sports betting integrity and compliance organization that continuously monitors and analyzes betting activity across multiple platforms to detect potential abuse. To learn more about the DGPT’s gambling policy and safeguards, read the official announcement and visit dgpt.com/rules for the full policy.
DFS: Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
Sportsbetting: 21+ Please refer to Affiliated Operators’ T&C. Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
LIVE COVERAGE
Disc Golf Network | Subscribe
The Disc Golf Network (DGN) is the home of live disc golf. The DGN is a subscription streaming and on-demand platform built by the Disc Golf Pro Tour. Covering the world’s best players competing in the sport’s most elite tournaments. For more information on Disc Golf Network offerings, check out this article → Check out the Disc Golf Pro Tour’s 2026 live media plan.
👉 What are the subscription tiers offered by the Disc Golf Network?
👉 Active PDGA members receive a discount on their monthly DGN subscription
👉 How to upgrade or downgrade your Disc Golf Network subscription
POST-PRODUCTION COVERAGE
JomezPro | Subscribe
JomezPro will continue providing free next-day lead card coverage with chase card inclusions for the FPO and MPO divisions at all DGPT (U.S.) and PDGA Pro Major events. At the European Open and the USDGC, post-pro coverage will first be available to DGN Pro subscribers (next-day) before being made available to DGN Standard subscribers and YouTube subscribers later.
