James Conrad pulled off one of the wildest endings in disc golf history to win the 2021 World Championship in Utah. Heading into the 18th hole, Paul McBeth had a one-stroke lead and looked poised to win his sixth world title. The hole required a tricky shot over water that then had to hook right toward the basket. McBeth went first and barely stayed inbounds, landing in decent shape. Conrad followed and hit a tree early, landing in what’s considered an impossible position. He played it safe with a layup to get open, setting up what many thought was a hopeless shot.
Then Conrad drained a 247-foot throw-in with a putter to tie it—what the broadcast called the greatest shot in disc golf history. The crowd lost it. Fans ran in circles. A guy in an American flag bathing suit sprinted around the green. Replay after replay showed stunned faces, mouths wide open. That miracle forced a playoff.
The first playoff hole was an island green—land it inside or go out-of-bounds. Conrad landed his tee shot clean, giving himself a putt. McBeth went forehand but landed in the water. That was it. Conrad won the playoff and the title. McBeth collected his disc and shared a respectful moment with Conrad. Then came the hugs, champagne, and the flag-suit guy diving into the water. James Conrad was the 2021 disc golf world champion, and he did it with one of the most clutch shots the sport has seen.