Powerball-backed Disc Golf Pro Tour crowns champions with record $350,000 purse

Silva Saarinen and Gannon Buhr won the inaugural Powerball Cup on Sunday in Lynchburg, Virginia, taking home $50,000 each from the largest purse in disc golf history. The event closed Powerball's first season as presenting partner of the Disc Golf Pro Tour, which expanded broadcasts, fan activations and prize money across a 23-event season.

Why it matters: - The Powerball Cup paid out the biggest purse in disc golf history, lifting the sport’s top-level prize money to a new benchmark. - Powerball’s first year as Presenting Partner of the Disc Golf Pro Tour added funding for infrastructure, fan access and season-long competition assets. - The partnership also widened exposure for professional disc golf through free live broadcast coverage and new spectator promotions.

What happened: - Silva Saarinen won the FPO title and Gannon Buhr won the MPO title at the inaugural Powerball Cup on Sunday in Lynchburg, Virginia. - Each champion earned $50,000 from a $350,000 championship purse. - The event capped Powerball’s first season as Presenting Partner of the Disc Golf Pro Tour. - The 2026 season featured 23 tournaments across four countries and 18 states. - More than 650 professional athletes from over 25 countries competed for points in the Powerball® DGPT World Standings and for a place in the season finale.

The details: - Powerball’s support extended across the Tour’s competition structure, including the Powerball® DGPT World Standings, Powerball® DGPT Playoffs and the season-ending Powerball® Cup. - The circuit operated as the Disc Golf Pro Tour Presented by Powerball® under the multi-year partnership. - Jeff Spring said the partnership helped the DGPT award the biggest purse in the sport’s history and made the first hour of every live broadcast this season available for free. - Powerball also backed the Powerball® Ace promotion at U.S. Tour stops. - At each participating tournament, five spectators were randomly selected to try to throw an ace and win cash prizes on the DGPT stage. - Each contest took place in front of the Saturday spectator gallery and aired live on the Disc Golf Network. - The promotion started with a $5,000 grand prize at the 2026 Supreme Flight Open. - The grand prize increased by $1,000 after each tournament stop. - Spectators who landed closest to the pin at each event won $500. - By the Powerball Cup, the Powerball Ace™ prize pool had grown to $19,000. - Powerball added an extra $1,000 for the final Powerball Ace of the year. - The season finale also included a Powerball Putt™ Ring of Fire putting competition, which awarded $10,000 from the prize pool.

Between the lines: - Powerball used the partnership to move beyond title sponsorship and into the Tour’s core business model, from standings to playoffs to broadcast distribution. - The free first hour of live broadcasts likely helped lower the barrier for new viewers and build a larger audience for the sport. - The spectator games show the partnership was designed to make events feel more interactive, not just more lucrative for players.

What's next: - Powerball and the Disc Golf Pro Tour plan to announce 2027 activations ahead of next season. - The partnership is multi-year, so more fan-facing promotions and competitive investments are likely to continue. - Full tournament results are available at dgpt.com.

The bottom line: - Powerball’s first season with the Disc Golf Pro Tour reset the financial ceiling for disc golf and gave the sport a broader national and international platform.