
Is it an albatross or a double eagle in golf?
For a long time, you've probably heard albatross and double eagle used interchangeably, but logic tells us that double eagle simply doesn't work as a term. We all accept an eagle as a score of 2 under on a hole, meaning a 3 on a par 5, a 2 on a par 4 or a 1 on a par 3 (which we'd all just call a hole-in-one or an ace).
What is a double eagle score in golf?
"Double eagle" is a term golfers use for a score of 3-under par on any individual golf hole. Each hole on a golf course is rated as a par 3, par 4, or par 5, where "par" is the expected number of strokes an expert golfer will need to finish that hole.
What is an albatross score in golf?
An albatross, or double eagle, is a rare score in golf consisting of three strokes under par on the same hole. It’s incredibly rare since you’d need to hit a hole-in-one on a Par 4, or your second shot in on a Par 5.
Is a double eagle equal to 4 under par?
Traditionalists on the British and European side insist on calling it an albatross and claim that they have never seen a bird called a double eagle. Furthermore, they claim that an eagle is equal to 2-under par on a hole therefore a double eagle should equal 4 under par on a hole.

Is a double eagle the same as an albatross in golf?
This article lists albatrosses that have been scored in important golf tournaments. 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 there such thing as a double eagle in golf?
Yes, "double eagle" and "albatross" are two different words that describe the exact same thing: a score of 3-under-par on a hole. Although both terms are used throughout the golf world, one can think of "double eagle" as an Americanism.
How rare is a double eagle in golf?
Double eagles are far more rare than a hole-in-one. The odds of a PGA Tour player making an ace: 3,000-to-1. For a low-handicapper golfer, it's even harder, of course: 5,000-to-1. Christensen said the odds of a double eagle are 100,000-to-1 for a tour pro — odds much longer than a hole-in-one.
Why do they call it a double eagle?
Likewise, the double eagle was created by the Coinage Act of 1849. Since the $20 gold piece had twice the value of the eagle, these coins were designated "double eagles". Before, the most valuable American coin was the $10 gold eagle, first produced in 1795, two years after the United States Mint opened.
What is the rarest shot in golf?
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.
How many golfers have had a double eagle?
Yes, Jeff Maggert scored a double eagle in the 1994 Masters and again in the 2001 British Open Championship making him the only player to have accomplished this feat. 15. How many golfers have scored more than one double eagle? There are 49 golfers with multiple double eagles scored.
What is an ostrich in golf?
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
Has anyone ever aced a par 5?
Although no one in PGA Tour history has ever recorded an ace on a par-5, there have actually been five records of par-5 holes-in-one. And no, none of them were from Happy Gilmore. The first “condor” occurred in 1962 off the club of Larry Bruce.
Is there a Triple Eagle in golf?
A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par. A condor would be a hole-in-one on a par-five (typically by cutting over a dogleg corner), a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven (which is not known to have been achieved).
Has anyone shot a double eagle?
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Gene Sarazen hit "the shot heard 'round the world," holing out with a 4-wood from 235 yards in the 15th fairway at Augusta National in 1935.
What is a dodo in golf?
The day after Gene Sarazen made an albatross in the final round of the 1935 Masters using a 4-wood from 235 yards, he called it a dodo. Tagsalbatross golf terms.
Is there a Triple Eagle in golf?
A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par. A condor would be a hole-in-one on a par-five (typically by cutting over a dogleg corner), a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven (which is not known to have been achieved).
Is a double birdie an eagle?
A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole.
How many strokes is a double eagle?
Golf Scoring Terms Cheat SheetGolf Scoring TermExplanationEagleTwo strokes under par on an individual hole.Albatross / Double EagleThree strokes under par on an individual hole.CondorFour strokes under par on an individual hole.Ace / Hole-in-OneGetting the ball in the hole (cup) in only one stroke.7 more rows•Jul 15, 2021
Who has made a double eagle?
Eugenio, Bruce, Jeffrey and Lodewicus Theodorus are linked by more than just uncommon skill with a club and a ball. Doing business as Gene Sarazen, Bruce Devlin, Jeff Maggert, and Louis Oosthuizen, they are the only four men to have made a double eagle in the Masters.
What is an "Albatross" in Golf?
In golf, an “ Albatross ” or “ Double Eagle ” occurs when a golfer scores three under par on a single golf hole. This feat is incredibly rare as it can only be accomplished by holing the second shot on a par 5 or getting a hole-in-one on a par 4 golf hole.
Notable Albatrosses
Gene Sarazen scored the first albatross in a modern Major on the fifteenth hole of Augusta National in 1935. This shot put Gene in a tie with Craig Wood. The tie held for the remainder of the round, and Sarazen ended up beating Wood in a 36-hole playoff the next day.
Is an Albatross the best score you can achieve in golf?
While an albatross is impressive, it isn’t the best score you can achieve in golf.
Are there any notable Albatross’s?
The most famous albatross was Gene Sarazen’s “shot heard around the world,” which he achieved at Augusta National’s 485-yard Par 5 15th in the final round of the Masters in 1935.
Is there a difference between an Albatross and a Double Eagle?
An albatross and a double eagle are the same score: three strokes under par on any particular hole.
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.
How many golfers have hit an albatross?
Did you know that there are over 40 other professional players (men and women) that have hit an albatross in golf, including scoring a par 4 hole in one?
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.
What are the odds of hitting an albatross?
The odds of hitting an albatross are thought to be in the millions to one shot so don’t be staking your house on this unlikely event!
Who suggested when his ball was only a few inches away from the hole?
The story goes that in Atlantic City there was a foursomes match where one of the players, AB Smith suggested when his ball was only a few inches away from the hole, the quote tells us…
Is a double eagle still used?
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!
Why do golfers prefer albatross to double eagle?
One of the reasons some golfers strongly prefer albatross to double eagle is that "double eagle" doesn't really make mathematical sense. An eagle is 2-under-par on a hole; double that should be 4-under. And yet, "double eagle" means 3-under.
What is double eagle golf?
Updated May 25, 2019. "Double eagle" is a term golfers use for a score of 3-under par on any individual golf hole . Each hole on a golf course is rated as a par 3, par 4, or par 5, where "par" is the expected number of strokes an expert golfer will need to finish that hole.
Why Double Eagle?
How did a score of 3-under on a hole come to be called a double eagle? For starters, "eagle" entered the golf lexicon after " birdie ," and golfers just stuck with the avian theme (which also explains "albatross"). An eagle is a score of 2-under on a hole; a double eagle is a score of 3-under on a hole. In theory, a triple eagle—4-under on a hole—is possible: It would be a hole-in-one on a par-5 (also called a " condor ") or a score of two on a par-6.
How to score double eagle?
Here are a couple of examples of the specific number of strokes it takes to make a double eagle. You make a double eagle when you: 1 Score a 1 on a par-4 hole; or 2 Score a 2 on a par-5 hole 3 Score on a 3 on a par-6 hole (par-6s holes are rare but do exist).
Why do you need to hol a double eagle?
Why? Because making a double eagle usually requires holing a longer shot —a tee shot on a par-4 or a fairway wood or long iron approach on a par-5, for example. In the first 50 years of the LPGA Tour's existence, only 25 double eagles were recorded. In 2012 on the PGA Tour, there were 37 holes-in-one but only four double eagles, which are fairly typical numbers for a PGA Tour season.
How many strokes do you need to play a par 4?
A great golfer should need four strokes to play a par-4 hole, on average. But when a golfer completes a hole in three strokes fewer than par, he is said to have made a "double eagle.".
When did double eagles become common?
"Double eagle" only became commonly used following Gene Sarazen 's hole-out for double eagle in the 1935 Masters. In the entire history of The Masters only four doubles eagles have been recorded.
What is a double eagle in golf?
A double eagle refers to a score of 3-under par. Scoring for shots under par became much simpler in the 1900s when the term “birdie” was initiated as this frequently used American slang word referred ...
What are the odds of scoring a double eagle?
The odds of scoring a double-eagle is approximately 6,000,000 to 1.
What does it mean to score a par in golf?
To score a par in golf means that you get the ball from the tee into the hole in the same number of shots that were predetermined by the golf club. This is normally the number of shots that a good golfer should require to complete the hole.
What hole do you hole out your approach shot on for double eagles?
Most double-eagles are recorded on par 5 holes where you have to hole out your approach shot.
How many chances are there of scoring an ace in golf?
Statistically, according to the National Hole in One Association, the odds of an amateur golfer scoring an ace are 12,000 to 1. Professional golfers have a better chance to score an ace at 3,700 to 1. The odds of scoring a double-eagle is approximately 6,000,000 to 1.
When did Jeff Maggert score a double eagle?
Jeff Maggert scored a double eagle in the 4th round on the Masters on the par 5, 13th hole in 1994, and repeated this on the par 5, 6th hole of the Open Championship in 2001. Only 18 Albatrosses in men’s’ Major history and 4 in women’s major tournaments.
When did the debate about albatross eagles start?
The debate on whether it should be called an albatross, or a double eagle, has raged since 1935 and will not be concluded anytime soon.
What does it mean to double eagle?
Therefore, a ‘double-eagle’ would presumably be twice the value. Consequently, using the term double-eagle to describe the act of playing a hole in three-under-par is, mathematically, wrong.
Where did the double eagle come from?
However, it is thought to have originated at Augusta National in 1935 where Gene Sarazen recorded the first albatross in Masters history.
How many shots does a condor play in a par 6?
Some courses have par-6 holes, where a condor would be playing the hole in just two shots. However, no such feat has ever been recorded.
Is it wrong to use the term "double eagle" to describe the act of playing a hole?
Consequently, using the term double-eagle to describe the act of playing a hole in three-under-par is, mathematically, wrong.
Is a three under par a double eagle?
Three-under-par on any given hole has been described as both an ‘albatross’ and a ‘double-eagle’.
Why can't you calculate double eagle odds?
Double-eagle odds can't be definitively calculated, because nobody is entirely certain how many double eagles are really made at all levels of golf. Different sources give different numbers, which are all just estimates based on incomplete data, which leages to different sources calculating different odds for making a double eagle.
How many strokes do you need to score an albatross?
To score an albatross, a golfer has to hole out in two strokes (record a score of two) on a par-5 hole, or make a hole-in-one (a score of one) on a par-4 hole. And neither of those things happens often, not even at the highest levels of professional golf. (Double eagles are impossible on par-3 holes.)
How many aces are there in The Masters?
From its inception in 1934 through 2016, there were 27 aces in The Masters but only four albatrosses.
