On Saturday, the Green Splatter Twitter account fired off the following:
You need to prepare yourself emotionally for Simon Lizotte to not match the season he had last year, because it's not happening again in 2023.
— Green Splatter (@GreenSplatter) January 28, 2023
Allow me to make this abundantly clear …
That’s NOT a hot take of any kind.
It’s perhaps the most safe, obvious kind of prognostication to make about Simon Lizotte’s 2023 Pro Tour season. At the time the tweet went out, I didn’t have any plans to write this article. But when the Twitter replies started pouring in, it became clear I’d need to bust out something.
For starters, it’s true: I like clicks – and I don’t apologize for it. Next, the tweet wasn’t inspired by any kind of need to bash on one of disc golf’s most beloved characters. Mr. Lizotte’s not far below Paul McBeth on my totem pole of disc golf greats. And lastly, the way I think Simon’s 2023 season will play out has ZERO to do with him bagging MVP discs for the first time …
He’ll figure all that out – and quickly.
The reason is simple:
Simon’s 2022 season was a career year – it’ll be hard to replicate.
Last year, Simon won four Elite Series events. In May and June, he took down the OTB Open and Portland Open – back-to-back wins. In fact, he almost made it four in a row, placing second at the Dynamic Discs Open in April and third at the Preserve Championship in late June. Then, in August and September, he owned the Des Moines Challenge and MVP Open, respectively.
You’re free to define “letdown” however you like, but in my mind, it’s a failure to meet or exceed expectations. The bar Simon’s set for himself in 2023 is nosebleed-section high. And in my experience, fans aren’t nearly as patient with golfers when big money changes hands …
To get an idea of the likelihood of Lizotte dropping another four-peat in 2023, consider the fact that, before last season, his last meaningful win of any kind was the 2018 European Disc Golf Championships – and an XA-tier, at that. So, yeah – he’s done this before, but just once …
And in 15 YEARS of MPO-level play.
I already know what you’re thinking:
“Sure, but he’s playing a more conservative game now – it’s the new Simon.”
That’s true, but this mindset adjustment of his isn’t a cure for cancer – people know about it. And if they want to take a stab at it themselves, they can. In 2023, Simon’s not sneaking up on people. And even if he tried to, the MPO field is much too deep to not notice – it’s improved, too:
- Gannon Buhr is no longer worried about graduating from high school.
- Eagle McMahon has a shoulder that can support a full-time tour.
- Calvin Heimburg now has the full, five-year support of Innova.
- Chris Dickerson (hopefully) won’t take a mid-season vacay.
Also, Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki aren’t dead – they’re as sharp as ever.
Given the above, can Lizotte outdo his 2022 self?
Of course.
But as harsh as it sounds, the smart money is on the guy doing WAY less than last season …
Sorry to burst your bubble.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- Review: The Disc Golf Towch
- Gripe No. 17: Teepads that don’t point down the fairway
- Simon Lizotte (and his MVP Glitch) can normalize 150-gram discs
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