After a season that is certainly one of the most memorable in disc golf history, Gannon Buhr was crowned the year 2024 DGPT's Ken Climo Player of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes the MPO Player of the Year named in honor “The Champ” Ken Climo yourself. Winning this award is no tiny feat – it is a recognition of talent, courage and consistency over an entire season, qualities that Buhr has demonstrated in abundance this year.
So how did he do it? Let's break down the stats, wins and defining moments that earned him this award, because Buhr not only had a great season; he had a season for the history books.
A record-breaking nine wins, including two majors
When people talk about a “dominant season,” they often mean numbers, and Buhr’s numbers for 2024 speak volumes. He won an incredible nine Tour events*, drawing Paul McBeths Record for most wins in a single season in 2019. But it wasn't just the number of wins that stood out; It was the caliber of events he handled.
Of those nine wins, two were PDGA Pro Majors – the European Open and the United States Disc Golf Championship– Making him the youngest MPO player to ever capture three PDGA Pro Major victories in his career (his first was at the 2022 USDGC). The major victories alone might have been enough to solidify Buhr's elderly season, but he wasn't done yet.
Comeback King and DGPT Championship winner
Buhr's season ended on a high note DGPT Championshipwhere he made one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the DGPT. Trailing by six shots in the final round, Buhr delivered a breathtaking battle against the seasoned pro and two-time PDGA Pro World Champion and three-time DGPT Champion Ricky Wysockithereby setting the record for the biggest comeback ever at a DGPT event. It's the kind of accomplishment that disc golf fans will be talking about for years to come – a testament to resilience, skill and sheer willpower.
With this DGPT Championship win, Buhr also made history by becoming the first player to exceed the $200,000 mark in earnings in a season. His payout was a worthy reward for such an exceptional season and set a novel standard for professional disc golf merit and achievement.
The DGPT+ events sweep
In 2024, Buhr pulled off what could be called the “DGPT+ sweep,” winning all four DGPT+ events of the season. DGPT+ events are known for attracting the sport's top talent and, as a four-round event, offer higher payouts and more points towards the DGPT standings. Win all DGPT+ events in a single season? This has never been done before this year – and it's further evidence of the level Buhr has played at all year.
DGPT points champion and birdie king
Consistency is often what separates a good player from a great player, and Buhr's consistency this season has been almost robotic. He didn't just end the season as DGPT points championand thus secured first place DGPT world rankingsbut so does he led the field in birdie rate with 51.52%. To put that in perspective, he converted more than half of his holes into birdies, a feat that highlights his precision and aggressiveness on the course.
He didn't just play aggressively; he played clever. Buhr achieved the highest rank when achieving both points C1 in the regulation (48.11%) And C2 in the regulation (70.35%)proving that his putting was supported by consistently excellent drives. By securing these placements near the basket, he maximized his scoring opportunities in almost every event he attended.
➡️ Check out the DGPT season stats page for the entire field!
Even though his drives were a little off, Buhr's phenomenal putting saved the day. This season he led the field in total putting distance, completing an astounding 25,283 feet – that's almost 5 miles of putts!
13 podiums, 23 top 10 finishes and a 100% cash rate
Of 24 tour events*, Buhr only missed the top 10 once. Let that sink in. Over 23 top 10 placements, 13 podiums and a 100 percent cash quota – Buhr showed performance again and again and delivered one performance after the other. With an average event rating of 1054, he played at an elite level almost every time he stepped on the tee.
And if you've followed Buhr's career, his 2024 season may not be a complete shock. At least he was named DGPT rookie of the year 2021, The Most Improved Player in 2022and was named DGPT All Star Every year since 2021. Every year he has risen further and this season he has reached the pinnacle of the sport.
Legacy in the making
Comparisons with past great seasons are inevitable. Whether Buhr's 2024 season was more dominant than Paul McBeth's legendary 2015 season will be debated in disc golf circles for years to come. What is not up for debate, however, is that Buhr's season will be remembered as one of the most impressive in DGPT history. Since the DGPT began in 2016, only two other players, McBeth and Wysocki, have more Tour Event* victories than Buhr, who now sits comfortably in third place with 13 career Tour Event* victories.
Looking ahead
With his first Ken Climo Player of the Year award under his belt, Buhr has shown that he is fully capable of taking his place among the sport's elite. It's invigorating to think about what he will bring to the table in the coming years, especially after a season that showed just how high his ceiling can be.
For now, let's raise a proverbial award for Gannon Buhr, a youthful player with a glowing future who gave us a season that will be talked about for a long, long time. Congratulations, Gannon – you deserve it in every way!
Click here for a full breakdown of the DGPT Player of the Year award, including details on eligibility, selection criteria and how this year's winners were selected.
*Tour events are represented as DGPT Standard/Elite, DGP+ and DGPT Playoff events including the DGPT Championship and PDGA Pro Majors. The data provided will be collected by StatMando from the conclusion of the 2024 DGPT season
