Ken Climo
American disc golfer
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Ken "The Champ" Climo (born March 27, 1968, in Clearwater, Florida) is an American professional disc golfer considered by some to be the best professional disc golfer of all time. Climo has claimed twelve PDGA World Championship titles, including nine in as many years from 1990 to 1998.[1] The only other golfers to achieve multiple World titles are Harold Duvall (1982, 1985), Barry Schultz (2003–2004), Nate Doss (2005, 2007, 2011), Paul McBeth (2012–2015, 2019, 2022), Richard Wysocki (2016, 2017) and Isaac Robinson (2023, 2024). In addition to his world titles, Climo has an unequalled record in the United States Disc Golf Championship (the premier event in the game), earning five titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007). Named PDGA player of the year seven times, Ken Climo was inducted into the PDGA Hall of Fame in 1995.
United States| Ken "The Champ" Climo | |
|---|---|
| — Disc golfer — | |
| Personal information | |
| Nickname | The Champ. The People's Champ. |
| Born | 1968 (age 57–58) Clearwater, FL |
| Nationality | United States |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1988 |
| Current tour | PDGA National Tour |
| Professional wins | 229 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PDGA National Tour | Open: 14 Masters: 6 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| PDGA World Championships | Won: Open: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006 Masters: 2012, 2014, 2015 |
| USDGC | Won: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 |
| European Open | Won: 2007 |
| Japan Open | Won: 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| Disc Golf Hall of Fame | 1995 |
| PDGA Male Player of the Year | 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007 |
He competed in the World Championships masters division for the first time in 2012, at the age of 44, and won by a large margin, securing his 13th world championship title. He has added 2 more masters world titles to his resume since then (2014, 2015).
During his three decades in the PDGA, Climo has notched 103[2] aces.
Climo, with Innova Discs, has created his own special blend of plastic, known as KC Pro. Several popular disc molds are available in KC Pro, including the Aviar and Roc. Climo spent 26 years as an Innova sponsored player before launching his own brand, Climo Disc Golf in January of 2025. His departure from the brand was announced on November 27, 2024.[3]
Professional career
Open division
Climo has 221 wins in the Open Division, the most all-time, including 12 World Championships and 5 US Championships.[4] He was the first player to ever win the World and US Championships in the same year.
PDGA Pro World Championships (12)
| Year | Location | Stroke Margin | Winning score | Runner up | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Scottsdale/Mesa/Fountain Hills, AZ | -1 | (43-47-43-47-45-45-45-46-46-45=452) | Sam Grizzaffi | $2,042 |
| 1991 | Dayton, OH | -10 | (45-48-48-49-48-42-41=321) | Eric Marx | $2,700 |
| 1992 | Detroit, MI | -9 | (44-43-46-41-53-47-45-42-52-29=442) | Crazy John Brooks | $3,500 |
| 1993 | Huntsville, AL | -4 | (47-44-45-46-43-45-50-45-44-25=434) | Dean Tannock | $2,539 |
| 1994 | Port Arthur, TX | -18 | (47-60-47-45-42-45-46-54-50-27=463) | Joe Mela | $2,500 |
| 1995 | Port Arthur, TX | -4 | (46-50-41-50-41-45-47-53-48-27=448) | Mike Randolph | $2,350 |
| 1996 | South Bend, IN | -3 | (48-49-48-40-51-49-44-42-41-20=432) | Geoff Lissaman | $3,600 |
| 1997 | Charlotte, NC | -7 | (45-50-48-47-47-46-49-46-49-23=450) | Scott Stokely | $3,000 |
| 1998 | Cincinnati, OH | -4 | (47-46-47-49-48-47-48-46-26=404) | Scott Stokely | $3,581 |
| 2000 | Ann Arbor, MI | -8 | (62-61-60-45-50-49-61-25=413) | Barry Schultz | $7,303 |
| 2002 | Houston, TX | -14 | (51-47-44-52-48-45-43-46-46-25=447) | Barry Schultz | $4,500 |
| 2006 | Augusta, GA | -5 | (51-50-45-45-65-47-46-23=372) | Nate Doss | $5,500 |
Other majors (8)
| Year | Tournament | Stroke Margin | Winning score | Runner up | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Japan Open | -13 | (43-44-44-43-44-21-26=265) | 'Crazy' John Brooks | $4,350 |
| 1994 | Japan Open | -12 | (47-45-49-45-47-21-22=276) | Marcus Cisneros | $4,350 |
| 1995 | Japan Open | -10 | (47-45-45-48-46-29-27=287) | John Ahart | $4,350 |
| 1999 | US Disc Golf Championships | -15 | (51-50-49-54=204) | Alan Schack | $1,400 |
| 2000 | US Disc Golf Championships | -5 | ( 59-55-54-58=226) | Alan Schack | $2,000 |
| 2002 | US Disc Golf Championships | -6 | (60-58-59-60=237) | Barry Schultz | $8,000 |
| 2004 | US Disc Golf Championships | -5 | (56-66-69-64=255) | Cameron Todd/Darrell Nodland | $10,000 |
| 2007 | European Open | -8 | (50-54-50-51=205) | David Feldberg | $5,480 |
| 2007 | US Disc Golf Championships | -11 | (63-58-56-56=233) | Avery Jenkins | $15,000 |
Major playoff record (0-1)
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | US Disc Golf Championships | Barry Schultz | Lost to birdie on tenth extra hole [5] |
National tour (14)
| Year | Tournament | Stroke Margin | Winning score | Runner up | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Bell South Open | -3 | (45-47-47-41-27=207) | Barry Schultz | $2,500 |
| 2004 | Bell South Open | -3 | (43-47-49-43-26=208) | Keith Warren | $2,500 |
| 2004 | Masters Cup | -5 | (77-75-70-27=249) | Barry Schultz/David Feldberg | $2,500 |
| 2005 | Golden State Classic | -1 | (57-55-61-57-32=262) | Barry Schultz/David Feldberg | $1,500 |
| 2005 | Greater Des Moines Challenge | -8 | (52-48-44-51=195) | Coda Hatfield | $1,500 |
| 2005 | Skylands Classic | Playoff | (44-59-51-52=206) | Steve Brinster | $2,100 |
| 2006 | Melbourne Open | -4 | (64-67-68-26=225) | Johne McCray | $1,500 |
| 2006 | Masters Cup | -11 | (76-72-67=215) | Steve Rico | $2,000 |
| 2007 | Bowling Green Open | -1 | (43-49-48-47-25=212) | Coda Hatfield | $2,000 |
| 2007 | Golden State Classic | -3 | (53-54-64=171) | Matthew Orum | $1,750 |
| 2009 | Atlanta Open | -4 | (50-50-55-62=217) | Barry Schultz | $1,700 |
| 2009 | Beaver State Fling | -7 | (54-51-51-52=208) | Avery Jenkins | $2,850 |
| 2010 | Sunshine State Shootout | Playoff | (62-74-65=201) | Nathan Doss | $1,250 |
| 2010 | Masters Cup | Playoff | (78-72-71=221) | Bradley Williams | $1,840 |
NT playoff record (3-0)
Summary
| Competition Tier | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-25 | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 12 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 22 | 22 |
| Other Majors | 8 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 31 | 33 |
| National Tour | 14 | 6 | 6 | 43 | 65 | 65 |
Annual statistics
| Year | Events | Wins | Top 3 | Earnings | $ / Event | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 7 | 1 | 3 | $408 | $58.29 | x |
| 1989 | 11 | 4 | 6 | $2,173 | $197.55 | x |
| 1990 | 15 | 9 | 13 | $6,996 | $499.71 | x |
| 1991 | 8 | 4 | 6 | $4,917 | $614.63 | x |
| 1992 | 23 | 14 | 23 | $10,667 | $463.78 | x |
| 1993 | 15 | 12 | 14 | $12,660 | $844.00 | x |
| 1994 | 17 | 11 | 17 | $11,105 | $653.24 | x |
| 1995 | 26 | 23 | 26 | $19,107 | $734.88 | x |
| 1996 | 21 | 16 | 19 | $12,523 | $596.33 | x |
| 1997 | 21 | 14 | 19 | $13,599 | $647.57 | x |
| 1998 | 22 | 13 | 19 | $17,812 | $809.64 | 1032 |
| 1999 | 20 | 15 | 19 | $22,426 | $1,121.30 | 1033 |
| 2000 | 19 | 12 | 17 | $22,096 | $1,162.95 | 1035 |
| 2001 | 19 | 8 | 15 | $17,110 | $900.53 | 1031 |
| 2002 | 18 | 6 | 14 | $30,597 | $1,699.83 | 1044 |
| 2003 | 12 | 3 | 7 | $14,121 | $1,176.75 | 1036 |
| 2004 | 16 | 5 | 11 | $26,520 | $1,657.50 | 1033 |
| 2005 | 16 | 4 | 10 | $17,080 | $1,067.50 | 1037 |
| 2006 | 19 | 8 | 11 | $22,687 | $1,194.05 | 1041 |
| 2007 | 21 | 10 | 15 | $39,210 | $1,867.14 | 1038 |
| 2008 | 15 | 4 | 8 | $13,552 | $903.47 | 1032 |
| 2009 | 17 | 7 | 10 | $14,748 | $867.53 | 1036 |
| 2010 | 19 | 6 | 13 | $19,010 | $1,000.53 | 1039 |
| 2011 | 12 | 2 | 4 | $5,580 | $465.00 | 1037 |
| 2012 | 12 | 3 | 7 | $8,265 | $688.75 | 1039 |
| 2013 | 9 | 2 | 4 | $2,461 | $273.44 | 1026 |
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | 4 | $4,647 | $774.50 | 1031 |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | 5 | $5,195 | $649.38 | 1026 |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | 3 | $1,460 | $292.00 | 1024 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $285 | $285 | 1024 |
| Career | 448 | 221 | 341 | $398,732 | $890.03 | x |
Masters division
Although eligible for the Masters Division in 2008 when he turned 40, Climo played his first Masters event in 2012, when he won the World Championships. He has won two additional World Championships since then (2014, 2015), bringing his total (including Open Division) to 15.
PDGA Masters World Championships(3)
| Year | Location | Stroke Margin | Winning score | Runner up | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Charlotte, NC | -9 | (55-46-59-51-52-60-46-26=395) | Barry Schultz | $3,500 |
| 2014 | Portland, OR | -1 | (54-54-56-60-53-53-63-31=424) | Barry Schultz | $2,500 |
| 2015 | Pittsburgh, PA | -3 | (56-57-64-57-60-56-27=377) | Patrick Brown | $2,400 |
National tour (6)
| Year | Tournament | Stroke Margin | Winning score | Runner up | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Memorial Championship | -9 | (55-52-50-47=204) | Jonathan Baldwin/Phil Arthur/Rex Rogers | $1,500 |
| 2013 | Beaver State Fling | -10 | (54-54-52-54=214) | Patrick Brown | $1,500 |
| 2014 | Memorial Championship | -3 | (57-49-50-49=205) | Patrick Brown | $1,500 |
| 2015 | Memorial Championship | -9 | (49-49-52-52=202) | Patrick Brown | $1,600 |
| 2016 | Memorial Championship | -7 | (50-49-48-45=192) | Patrick Brown | $1,600 |
| 2016 | Beaver State Fling | Playoff | (57-58-56-57=228) | Patrick Brown | $1,250 |
NT playoff record (1-0)
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Beaver State Fling | Patrick Brown | Won with birdie on first extra hole [9] |
Summary
| Competition Tier | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-25 | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Other Majors | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| National Tour | 6 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Annual statistics
| Year | Events | Wins | Top 3 | Earnings | $ / Event | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 1 | $1,200 | $1,200 | 1039 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 | $4,325 | $2,162.50 | 1039 |
| 2013 | 5 | 2 | 3 | $6,325 | $1,265.00 | 1026 |
| 2014 | 3 | 2 | 2 | $5,000 | $1,666.67 | 1031 |
| 2015 | 4 | 2 | 3 | $5,450 | $1,362.50 | 1026 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2 | 2 | $3,850 | $1,283.33 | 1022 |
| Career | 18 | 10 | 12 | $26,150 | $1,452.78 | x |
Equipment
Climo has been sponsored by Innova Champion discs throughout his career. He has a number of past and current signature discs (marked with *) and carries a combination of the following discs in competition:[10][11]
Drivers
- Boss (Champion)
- Destroyer (Pro, Star)
- Firebird (Champion)*
- Katana (Echo Star)
- Starfire (Pro)
- Tern (Champion)*
- Wraith (Pro, Star)*
- XCaliber (Echo Star)
Fairway Drivers
- Banshee (Champion)
- Eagle (Champion)*
- TeeBird (Champion, KC Pro)*
- TL (Champion)
- Sidewinder (Champion)
Midranges
- Roc (KC Pro)*
Putters
- Aviar (KC Pro)*
Climo's other signature discs have included: Cheetah, Cobra, Gazelle, Pegasus, Polaris LS, Raven, Scorpion, Stingray, Viper, Vulcan, Whippet, XD