The PDGA Tour’s mid-summer Major event Scandinavian saga continues this week with the World’s top Pros flying their games across the northern lights and into the Disc Golf hotbed of Nokia, Finland. Here, 144 players representing a tournament record 15 countries, including 12 Euro nations, the fearsome and favored Americans, and faraway Australia and New Zealand, will vie for the titles at the prestigious European Open.

Fresh off their sweep of the top positions at the Scandinavian Open (SO), Team USA will be aiming to dominate once again. They will be led by the reigning 3x World and defending EO Champion Paul McBeth #27523, whose disc-tinguished 11 throw victory in Sweden last weekend netted him an icy cool payday of $7500, and SO runner-up and 3x USDGC Champion Will Schusterick #29064. Throw in the World’s 3 leading ladies in Paige Pierce #29190, Catrina Allen #44184, and Val Jenkins #17495, former Men’s World champs Nate Doss #11794 and David Feldberg #12626, and a slew of other 1000+ rated shooters, and it’s easy to see why the host continent’s task of upsetting the “Tour-ists” will be a daunting one.

The battlefield will be “The Beast,” an exquisite and exacting 2745 meter par 64 layout designed by global promoter and event host Jussi Meresmaa #14600. From the helm of DiscMania, Innova Europe, Spin18 and DiscGolfPark™, and together with his deep team and the Suomen Frisbeegolfliitto, Jussi has been the catalyst for the explosive growth of the sport in Finland, to the point where there are now more than 450 courses and 75,000 regular players, all in a nation of just 5.5 million people. Poikkeuksellinen!

The festivities begin on Wednesday afternoon with the 7th edition of the President’s Cup, disc golf’s version of the Ryder Cup, when Team Europe takes on Team USA in best score and match play. The four rounds of the European Open follow, teeing off on Thursday morn and climaxing on Sunday, when the final round will be broadcast live on Finnish National TV.

2 years ago the President’s Cup was electric, coming down to the final pairing and the final hole. While Sweden’s now semi-retired Jesper Lundmark #15239 is the only continental player to have defeated the red white and blue hordes at a PDGA Tour Major event in Scandinavia - the 2009 EO - one can imagine what a huge boost to European spirits and the home fans a victory over Team USA would be. One thing is certain, Eurozone top guns such as Germany’s Simon Lizotte #8332, Denmark’s KJ Nybo #28903, and local favourite and 2014 European Champion Seppo Paju #36744 will come out firing.

A full broadcast schedule, live scoring, and other pertinent information can be found at the official European Open & President’s Cup website, www.opendiscgolf.com. Don’t forget to follow the PDGA on Facebook and Twitter for updates, pictures, and videos.