Remembering Gregg Barsby’s 2018 Pro Worlds Victory

​ ​In the 40+ years of PDGA Pro World Championship history, Gregg Barsby stands out as one of the top players to have claimed the coveted title in our sport. He achieved this feat in 2018 at Smugglers Notch, during the era of PDGA Major dominance by McBeth and Wysocki. With over a decade of experience on the tour, Barsby was already a seasoned legend. Despite not being the favorite going into the week, his composure and expertise proved to be the winning formula. Throughout the five days of competition, Barsby maintained a consistent performance, understanding that the World Championship is a marathon, not a sprint. By the final round, he had built a two-stroke lead over the rest of the field. Although he did not shoot the best round on any of the days, his steady play paid off. In his own words, “Not starting well shook me awake. I told myself to keep playing, not dwell on the past, and my patience eventually paid off as shots started dropping.” As the tournament reached its climax, Barsby’s clutch performance was on full display. He executed a perfect forehand on Hole 15, taking the solo lead at -40. His approach shot on Hole 16 was hailed by Ken Climo as the shot of the tournament, maintaining his one-stroke lead over Josh Anthon. On Hole 17, Barsby sunk a nerve-wracking 25-foot putt for birdie, which could be considered the most crucial putt of his career. And on the final hole, despite his drive flirting with the out-of-bounds line, it landed in the ideal spot to secure him the victory. As we look ahead to the 2024 PDGA Pro World Championship, let us remember the history of remarkable triumphs and heart-wrenching defeats that make this tournament truly special.