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.