Boog Krol Wins Third Career Title, First Major in USBC Masters

Boog Krol etched his name into the history books on Sunday afternoon inside Strobl Arena at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich.

The fifth seed for the stepladder finals won four straight matches to win the USBC Masters, the third major championship of the 2026 PBA Tour powered by Go Bowling.

Krol defeated top seed EJ Tackett by one pin in the title match, 196-195, to claim his third career PBA Tour title, first career major championship and the $100,000 top prize.

“This is something that I never thought would happen,” Krol said. “I thought being a titleist was pretty cool, but to be a major titleist now, it's something that I couldn't even imagine growing up. I watched all these guys on TV win majors after majors. Some of the best in the world have won this event. I'm just super thankful that my life decisions I made have brought me here."

A week ago, Krol lost the PBA Indiana Classic in as demoralizing fashion as possible. As the top seed, he shot 136 in the championship match against Marshall Kent, who won with a record-low score of 152.

Krol had less than 24 hours to reset before the practice session for this week’s USBC Masters.

With a new mindset, Krol qualified for the 64-player, double-elimination match play bracket for just the second time in his career.

He won his first four matches before falling to Tackett — who shattered the tournament’s match play record by averaging a blistering 258.39 during 18 games of match play —  then rallied to make the stepladder finals as the No. 5 seed.

In the finals, Krol defeated three southpaws in Matt Sanders, Jesper Svensson and Eric Jones before knocking off the three-time reigning PBA Player of the Year in Tackett.

“This is redemption from last week after shooting my worst game ever on TV,” Krol added. “I came in here with a brand new mindset for a brand new event. Running the ladder and beating the best in the world, I don't think there's any better feeling.”

“The little guy has a big heart,” Keven Williams, a close friend of Krol’s and fellow Springfield, Mo. native, said two years ago during Krol’s breakout season.

Krol defeated lefty Matt Sanders, who made an improbable comeback from a leg injury last offseason, in the opening match of the stepladder finals.

Sanders had two opens in the first frames, putting himself in a deficit Krol refused to relinquish.

Krol continued his climb of the stepladder with a win over two-time major champion Jesper Svensson in the second match. Svensson was unable to string strikes, converting six single-pin spares during the game.

Eric Jones, the No. 2 seed, started with four strikes against Krol in the semifinal match. But the 21-year-old opened two of the next three frames and struck just once more in the game. 

Krol, advancing to his second championship match, said he struggled when facing players of Tackett’s caliber.

“I've been beaten so many times by the best in the world,” Krol said. “After I lost to EJ (during match play), I went to the paddock and I said, ‘How do I beat these guys?’ I'm getting the position to get there, but I can't figure out a way to beat them. Just to be in that position, I was thankful for. This was my time.”

Tackett had an opportunity to become the fourth player in PBA history — joining Mike Aulby, Norm Duke and Jason Belmonte — by winning the PBA’s Grand Slam.

Having previously won the U.S. Open, PBA World Championship and PBA Tournament of Champions, Tackett needed only the Masters to complete the Grand Slam.

Perhaps the magnitude of the match overwhelmed Tackett early on as he started with two splits and two open frames.

Krol said he felt relief seeing Tackett’s two open frames, but knew Tackett would find a way back into the match.

After converting a 10-pin in the third frame, Tackett struck on five of his next seven shots.

Krol lost the lead with a 4-9 split and open frame in the sixth frame, but regained the lead with a double in the seventh and eighth frames.

The two players were essentially tied entering the 10th frame, each holding a max score of 206.

Krol, finishing first, struck on his first shot of the 10th frame then converted the 2-8 to shoot 196.

Tackett found himself in familiar territory. In 2023, Tackett needed a strike and eight pins to win the U.S. Open and complete the Triple Crown. He threw two strikes in a career redefining victory.

This time, with the Grand Slam on the line, Tackett again struck on his first shot of the 10th frame.

Tackett made another quality shot, but the 10-pin stood tall for the fourth time of the championship match.

For the second time in his career, Tackett left the USBC Masters finals empty-handed as the top seed.

“Nine times out of 10, he's going to double there to beat me,” Krol said. “He's the best in the world. He's done it in the same arena. I was expecting it.

“But I never gave up, I think that was the biggest point for me this week,” Krol added. “Winning one time on this tour meant the world. It was a dream come true, and now we're adding to the resume. This is an unbelievable life that I get to live now. I'm a major champion.”

The 2026 PBA Tour powered by Go Bowling continues with the Pilgrim's PBA Ohio Classic and PBA USA vs. The World this week in Columbus, Ohio.

Qualifying gets underway at the Columbus Square Bowling Palace Lanes on Tuesday. The finals are set for Sunday, April 5 at 4 p.m. ET on The CW.

Next Saturday, EJ Tackett’s American squad will take on Jason Belmonte and Team World at 2 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. Learn more about the PBA USA vs. The World event here.

Championship Round Results

Match One: No. 5 Boog Krol def. No. 4 Matt Sanders, 216-197
Match Two: No. 5 Boog Krol def. No. 3 Jesper Svensson, 227-202
Match Three: No. 5 Boog Krol def. No. 2 Eric Jones, 206-196
Championship: No. 5 Boog Krol def. No. 1 EJ Tackett, 196-195

Final Standings

1. Boog Krol, $100,000
2. EJ Tackett, $50,000
3. Eric Jones, $25,000
4. Jesper Svensson, $15,000
5. Matt Sanders, $10,000

Complete standings are available here.