Albatross is an extremely rare golf shot that entails scoring a 2 on a par-5 hole or three under par on a particular golf hole. To make an Albatross, you need to take two perfect shots under par, the latter taking the ball into the hole. The first shot sets the premise for the second shot or is a hole-in-one if you are on a par 4.
What is better than an albatross in golf?
Odds of a hole in one, albatross, condor and golf's other unlikely shots
- A hole-in-one or ace According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, the odds of the average golfer making a hole-in-one are 12,000 to 1. ...
- An albatross or double eagle An albatross is achieved when a player either aces a par 4, or scores a "2" on a par 5. ...
- A condor
What does the term "albatross" mean in golf?
What Is the Meaning of Albatross in Golf?
- Overview. Scoring an albatross on a given hole requires that you are playing on a par-5 hole. ...
- Notable Albatrosses. PGA Tour legend Gene Sarazen was the first professional golfer to record an albatross in one of golf's four modern major events, and he did so when the ...
- Odds. ...
- Considerations. ...
Do is you know what an albatross in golf?
In golf, "albatross" is a term for scoring 3-under par on an individual hole. Yes, albatross is another word for a double eagle - the two terms are identical in meaning. But, as we'll see below, albatross is the more widely used term.
What is an albatross in golf scoring?
Some notable names that have an albatross at a Major Championship include:
- Gene Sarazan (hole 15) Masters, Augusta in 1935.
- Shaun Micheel (hole 6) U.S. Open, Pebble Beach in 2010.
- Jeff Maggert (hole 6)The Open Championship, Royal Lytham in 2001.
- Nick Watney (hole 17) U.S. Open Olympic Club in 2012.
- Vikki Laing (hole 17) Women’s British Open, Royal Birkdale Golf Club in 2014.
Why do they call it an albatross in golf?
' In 19th-century American slang, 'bird' refereed to anyone or anything excellent or wonderful. By analogy with 'birdie,' the term 'eagle' soon thereafter became common to refer to a score one better than a 'bird. ' Also by analogy, the term 'albatross' became common to refer to a double eagle.
Is a hole-in-one on a par 4 an albatross?
Albatross or Double Eagle An albatross is achieved when a player either aces a par 4, or scores a "2" on a par 5.
How many albatrosses have there been in the PGA?
Only 18 albatrosses achieved, in history, at major tournaments.
Has anyone made an albatross in golf?
An albatross, sometimes called a double-eagle, is a score of three under par for an individual hole. An incredibly rare feat, an albatross has only been made a handful of time at any of the fours Majors - the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship.
How many albatross has Tiger Woods had?
Tiger Woods and the Chase for an Albatross Although Tiger has never recorded an albatross on TOUR, his closest call came in 2015 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which was won by Brooks Koepka. After a 329-yard drive, Tiger hit his second shot just 7 inches from the pin for a tap-in eagle.
Why are golf terms named after birds?
A Bogey means one over par. Birdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.
How many albatrosses does Augusta have?
A grand total of four double eagles (albatrosses) have been recorded in the entire history of The Masters Tournament, which dates to 1934. And those four double eagles have each happened on a different hole — no one hole at Augusta National Golf Club has yet seen a second albatross.
Has anyone ever aced a par 5?
As of January 2021, a condor (four under par) hole-in-one on a par 5 hole had been recorded on five occasions, aided by thin air at high altitude, or by cutting the corner on a doglegged or horseshoe-shaped hole. Holes-in-one ("aces") are also recorded in disc golf.
What's better than an albatross in golf?
An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross"). A triple bogey is 3-over par.
What is the difference between a double eagle and an albatross?
An albatross, also called a double eagle, is a score of three-under-par on a single hole. This is most commonly achieved with two shots on a par-5, but can be done with a hole-in-one on a par-4.
Is albatross better than hole-in-one?
The odds of scoring a hole in-one, or ace, is 12,000 to 1, while an albatross is six million to 1, according to golf experts. The odds of doing both in the same round are, well, almost incalculable.
What is a condor in golf terms?
Scoring a condor is the rarest event in golf. This is normally a hole in one at a par five (a two at a par six would also count, but this has never been done). Only five condors have ever been recorded: The most recent was Kevin Pon, who made a 2 on a par 6 at Lake Chabot Golf Course on the 10th December 2020.
What does "albatross" mean in golf?
In golf, "albatross" is a term for scoring 3-under par on an individual hole. Yes, albatross is another word for a double eagle - the two terms are identical in meaning.
When was albatross first used?
According to ScottishGolfHistory.org, the earliest use of albatross, in its golf sense, in print occurred in a British newspaper in 1929. The British Golf Museum, meanwhile, says that "albatross" became commonly used by golfers only in the 1930s.
What is the par rating on a golf course?
Remember that " par " is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of a hole. And each hole on a golf course is assigned a par rating. With that in mind, a golfer gets to claim an albatross by: Scoring a 1 (making a hole-in-one) on a par-4 hole; Scoring 2 on a par-5 hole.
Who said "It is an albatross bird"?
Perhaps golfer and U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy said it best: "It (an albatross bird) is grand, which is what describes the shot.". (The shot being the one the golfer holed out with to make the score.)
Is an albatross a double eagle?
Yes, albatross is another word for a double eagle - the two terms are identical in meaning. But, as we'll see below, albatross is the more widely used term. Albatrosses - save for holes-in-one on par-5s, which are nearly (but not quite) non-existent - are the rarest scores in golf. Albatrosses are far rarer than aces .
What is an Example of an Albatross Shot in Golf?
An albatross occurs when a golfer gets the ball into the hole three strokes under par. For example, on a par 5, an albatross will arise if it only took two strokes to get the ball in. If the hole was a par six and you got the ball into the hole in three strokes, it will also be an albatross.
Can You Get a Hole-in-One and a Double Eagle on the Same Shot?
Yes, you can achieve both a hole-in-one and a Double Eagle on the same golf shot. For example, on par 4, you can hit a hole-in-one and achieve an albatross. In January 2022, Rowan McCarthy recorded a hole-in-one and albatross on the same shot.
Why is it Called an Albatross?
Golf uses bird names to score certain shots, so they call it an albatross or a double eagle. For example, a Birdie means that you got the ball into the hole one shot under par. Meanwhile, an Eagle occurs when you take less than two shots to score what the par says.
How Rare is an Albatross Shot in Golf?
According to the Tamos Hanter Golf, your odds of making an albatross shot is about one in six million. To put that in perspective, you have a 12,500 to 1 chance of making a hole-in-one in golf, according to Ahno.com. Getting a hole-in-one, while incredibly impressive, isn’t even close to what an albatross is in the odds.
Is There Anything Better than an Albatross Shot in Golf?
The rarest shot in golf belongs to a condor, where you are four under par. As of January 2022, there have only been six players to achieve that. Interestingly, all of the six players were amateur golfers.
Has Anyone got an Albatross in the U.S. Open?
Three players got a double eagle during the U.S. Open as of January 2022. Their names are Chen Tze-Chung, Shaun Micheel, and Nick Watney. The most recent occurrence of the double eagle in the U.S. Open was in 2012.
Has Anyone got an Albatross in The Open Championship?
Eight professional golfers got a double eagle during The Open Championship as of January 2022. The players’ names include Young Tom Morris, Jonny Miller, Manny Zerman, Greg Own, Greg Evans, Paul Lawrie, and Bill Rogers.
Why is it Called an Albatross?
You have to go back to 1899 to first learn about the origins of the albatross term in golf.
Is it Double Eagle or Albatross?
In the US, a double eagle is still used – but in the UK and Europe as a whole, the term “albatross” is a more widely used term to describe a double eagle.
Is it Hard to Shoot an Albatross?
Most amateurs will never shoot an albatross in their lives. When you think about what is required to make this shot on a par 5 hole it seems impossible!
What Professional Golfers Have Made an Albatross?
Remarkably, there are numerous players that have shot an albatross in golf, such as Jack Nicklaus who in 1996 hit an albatross on the par 5, 18th hole at the Atlantic Beach Country Club.
What Is The History Of An Albatross In Golf?
An albatross can grow to a massive wingspan of twelve feet, symbolizing how noteworthy scoring one is.
Tips for Scoring an Albatross
Scoring an albatross is something that even professional players can’t regularly do. There is a little bit of luck involved and a lot more skill. Even still, there are a few tricks and skills you can implement to improve your chances of scoring one.
Conclusion
Now you know what an albatross is in golf, where the term comes from, and a few anecdotes of its historical usage. You learned about some recent notable albatrosses in tournaments that turned the tides of games. Finally, you learned some general tips for improving your chances of scoring a double eagle of your own.
What is an albatross in golf?
The History of The Albatross in Golf. A par score on a hole is predetermined by the golf club and refers to the number of shots that a good golfer should require to get the ball from the tee into the hole. Before the 1900s golf was scored in the number of shots under or below par. An albatross would be referred to as a 3 under par score.
How many albatrosses have been scored in golf?
Of the 18 albatrosses scored in major championships, 17 have been scored on par 5s. Considering that only approximately 10% of golfers have the length and ability to reach a par 5 in 2 shots, the other 90% of golfers don’t have a chance of ever making an albatross.
What is double eagle golf?
The term albatross has been in use for several decades around the world, but you may hear the term “Double eagle” frequently being used in the U.S. Both terms refer to the same number of shots under par achieved on a hole
How many chances are there of scoring an albatross?
According to the National Hole in One Association you are less likely to score an albatross than a hole-in-one. The odds of making a hole-in-one is 12,700 to 1 for amateur golfers and 3,700 to 1 for professional golfers. The odds of achieving an albatross are set at 6 million to 1. The chances of being struck by lightning (1 in 555,000) ...
What birdie is used for a score below par?
The term eagle was introduced as it was bigger, grander, more majestic than a little birdie. Other terms used for a score below par on a hole are “albatross” for 3 under par and an extremely rare term, “condor” for 4 under par. Only 4 condors have ever been recorded. An albatross is a large bird with an impressive wingspan that is exceedingly rare. ...
What are some interesting facts about albatrosses?
Some Facts About Albatrosses in Major Tournaments 1 Only 18 Albatrosses in men’s’ Major history and 4 in women’s major tournaments 2 4 in the Masters (last achieved in 2012) 3 3 in the U.S. Open (last achieved in 2012) 4 18 in The Open Championship (oldest major) (last achieved in 2009) 5 3 in the PGA Championship (last achieved in 2006) 6 3 in Women’s Open championship (last achieved in 2014)
What are the odds of getting an albatross?
The odds of achieving an albatross are set at 6 million to 1. The chances of being struck by lightning (1 in 555,000) making it more likely that you will be struck by lightning than scoring an albatross.
What Is an Albatross in Golf?
Albatross is an extremely rare golf shot that entails scoring a 2 on a par-5 hole or three under par on a particular golf hole. To make an Albatross, you need to take two perfect shots under par, the latter taking the ball into the hole.
Why Is It Called an Albatross?
Albatross is a scoring term in the game of golf. It’s called an Albatross because the shot is as rare as the seabird itself. But why Albatross when three-under-par could literally be anything? To understand the clearly visible aviary theme in golfing, we have to take a look at the golf history.
How to Score an Albatross in Golf?
There are no hard and fast rules to bag this golden achievement because the ones who had made an Albatross did not live to make another. Except for Jeff Maggert, the only golfer to have scored an Albatross twice in major championships ( PGA Tour )!
Professional Golfers Who Scored an Albatross
Albatrosses have been made a total of 18 times in Major golfing events. Shaun Micheel gave the world a spectacular scene in the final round of the US Open at the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s possible to score better than an Albatross as long as you count a bird or a hole-in-one as the better term. You’re not allowed errant shots when it comes to a hole-in-one.
Rounding up
Hitting an albatross may seem difficult and is an extremely rare feat and golf term, even for professionals but that doesn’t mean that other golf scores such as an eagle, birdie or a par aren’t a good score too.
How many strokes under par for an albatross?
An albatross in golf is another name for a score on a hole equal to three strokes under par. There are only three instances in which an albatross can be scored: a score of 1 on a par 4, a 2 on a par 5, or a 3 on a par 6 (a par rarely seen in golf). In golf, albatrosses are exceedingly rare. Rare in the natural world, albatrosses are equally rare on ...
What is the difference between an albatross and a double eagle?
Albatross vs Double Eagle. Albatross is not the only name for a score of three under par on a hole. An albatross is also known as a double eagle. Some people may argue that albatross is a better name to describe the rare feat in golf but the more popular term used within the golf industry is a double eagle.
What is the score of a condor in golf?
A condor is a score of 4 under par on a hole and there are only two instances in which this score can occur: a hole in one on a par 5 or a 2 on a par 6.
How many golfers can hit the green in two shots?
Golfers have better odds of being struck by lightning (1 in 555,000) than recording an albatross on their scorecard. Additionally, only 10% of golfers can hit the green in two shots on a par 5 meaning 90% of golfers won’t have the opportunity to ever make one.
What is dispersion in golf?
Dispersion refers to the total area where errant shots may land, including bunkers, the putting green, water hazards, and heavy rough. At 150 yds the dispersion pattern for the average golfer (someone whose 18-hole average score is about 90-100) could be as wide as 50-75 ft.
Why is it important to play golf when you are downwind?
If the ball does not get above the wind, it will be pushed down limiting the distance it travels making it tougher to carry the water hazard. Golf is about playing favorable percentages based on the dispersion patterns of your golf shot.
Where was the albatross in 1935?
Mention the word albatross near any golf enthusiast and chances are their memory drifts back to Gene Sarazen in the final round of the 1935 Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
The Scores That Result in An Albatross
How Rare Are Albatrosses in Golf?
- Veryrare. Consider these facts: 1. In the entire history of The Masters, there have been only four albatrosses scored (they are listed on our Masters Recordspage); 2. In the U.S. Open, only three albatrosses have ever been recorded (listed in the US Open FAQ); 3. And over the first 60 years of the LPGA Tour's history, a total of only 30 albatrosses were scored.
Origins of The Golf Use of 'Albatross'
- You know what an albatross is in golf, but why that word? How did "albatross" come to be used as the word for 3-under par on a hole? It was simply in keeping with the already established avian theme of terms applied to below-par golf scores. Birdie, for 1-under par on a hole, came first. Eagle, for 2-under par, evolved next. (See The Origins of Birdie and Eagle in Golffor more about t…
Double Eagle vs. Albatross
- The two terms are identical in meaning, but where are they used? This is easy: "Double eagle" is the preferred term in the United States, "albatross" is used almost everywhere else. Why "double eagle" came to be the commonly used term in the U.S. probably dates to the 1935 Masters. That's where Gene Sarazenhit a shot that is still among the most famous in golf history, a par-5 hole-ou…