Details: MVP Open to host $1 million ace contest

Talk about a mega-upstaging of Gavin Babcock’s $10,000 OTB Tour Skins ace, right?

Yes, you read the headline correctly – it’s Maple Hill’s million-dollar prize.

Considering Scottie Scheffler took home $2.7 million after four rounds of Masters-winning play at Augusta National, one throw for $1 million is none too shabby. And this for a sport with most players living in campervans below the poverty line – that’s real, life-changing capital.

The MVP Open at Maple Hill will start tomorrow. That same day, immediately following the conclusion of the Disc Golf Network’s (DGN) live broadcast, eight MPO golfers will take three throws each to hit an ace for $1 million. On Friday, eight FPO golfers will do the same thing.

The baskets for both fields will be placed on the fairway of Maple Hill’s iconic first hole.

Competition specifics can be found below:

• MPO – Thursday at 6 p.m., eight men will get three attempts to ace a 600-foot hole.
• FPO – Friday at 6 p.m., eight women will get three attempts to ace a 450-foot hole.

That’s all fine and dandy …

But WHO gets to participate?

For starters, all 16 athletes must have qualified for the MVP Open. From there, golfers will be chosen via a combination of UDisc’s Precise Power Index (PPI) and fan votes. The top six MPO and FPO golfers in the PPI will earn automatic entry into the contest. For the men, that’s Albert Tamm, Calvin Heimburg, Jake Hebenheimer, Ricky Wysocki, Kyle Klein and Anthony Barela.

On the flip side of things, for the ladies, Natalie Ryan, Paige Pierce, Henna Blomroos, Eveliina Salonen, Kristin Tattar and Emily Beach will all get their shot (or shots) at $1 million dollars.

* Note #1: The PPI is a UDisc metric that quantifies accuracy on holes requiring elite distance.

* Note #2: For MPO and FPO PPI standings, see here and here – click on the “PPI” columns.

The remaining two vacancies will be filled by the MPO and FPO disc golfers who receive the most votes from fans. Fan votes can be cast using this form up until this evening at midnight.

To view the event in-person, as long as you have a day-of MVP Open ticket, the contest is free. For those viewing from home, both days, courtesy of the DGN, the Million-Dollar Shot will be broadcast live immediately following the end of Thursday’s and Friday’s tournament coverage.

If you’re not a DGN subscriber, Gatekeeper Media will provide post-produced footage.

Trust me, though …

If somebody smashes chains for that much coin, you’re bound to hear about it.

Says Steve Dodge, tournament direct for the MVP Open:

“When this ace is hit, it is going to be the biggest shot in disc golf history. With the tremendous growth of the sport that has happened in the past two years, more media than ever will be chomping at the bit to get a piece of the excitement that will be generated. I cannot wait to have the MVP Open be a part of the magic that pushes the sport to even higher levels.”

For myself, I have to agree with Dodge on this one …

If somebody somehow manages to splash this thing, even without the throw taking place during an actual event, it’ll join the ranks of Philo Brathwaite’s albatross and James Conrad’s throw-in as one of the greatest tosses in frisbee history – without a doubt, the most lucrative.

Is it going to happen?

Not a chance.

But STILL …

You sure as heck don’t want to be the idiot who misses out if it does.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

Editor’s Suggestions:

• Gripe No. 5: Disc golfers glamorize old plastic
• Disc golf: Why you should create a putting routine (and stick with it)
• Jeff Spring: How can the DGPT grow spectatorship at wooded courses?

Real quick, if you happen to buy something through a link in this article, there’s a chance we’ll get a small share of the sale. It’s how we keep the lights on. To learn more, click here.