Nina Caldwell
An albatross in golf is a score of three strokes under par on a single hole. It is an incredibly rare feat, with odds of around 6 million to 1. The term albatross, also known as a double eagle, dates back to the 1800s and originates from American golfing circles. It is considered a symbol of good luck and exceptional skill, and only a handful of golfers have achieved this remarkable accomplishment in major tournaments. Achieving an albatross typically involves scoring a hole-in-one on a par-4 or completing a par-5 in two strokes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A score of three-under-par on a single hole |
| Other Names | Double eagle, triple eagle or condor (for a double albatross) |
| How to Score an Albatross | Scoring a hole-in-one on a par-4 or completing a par-5 in two shots |
| Rarity | One of the rarest achievements in golf with odds of around 6 million to 1 |
| Number Scored | Since 1983, 139 albatrosses have been scored in PGA tournaments. Across all levels of golf history, approximately 3,011 golfers have recorded an albatross. |
| Notable Albatrosses | Nicholas Thompson at the 2002 PGA Tour's Safeway Open, Kevin Murray (longest albatross in golf history at 647 yards), Xander Schauffele at The American Express in 2023, Brendan Steele (first albatross in LIV Golf history), Sandra Post in the 1978 du Maurier Classic, Sophie Gustafson in the 1999 Women's British Open |
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What You'll Learn
The odds of scoring an albatross are 6 million to 1
An albatross, also known as a double eagle, is one of the rarest achievements in golf. It involves completing a hole in three strokes under par. This is most commonly achieved with two shots on a par-5 hole, but can also be done with a hole-in-one on a par-4. The term "albatross" dates back to the 1800s and originates from American golfing circles. The word "bird" was first used as slang for something excellent and soon became associated with shots under par. As golf evolved, additional terms were coined, with "eagle" referring to two shots under par and "albatross" for three shots under par.
The odds of scoring an albatross are around 6 million to 1, making it a significantly rarer feat than a hole-in-one, which has odds of 13,000 to 1. Since 1983, only 139 albatrosses have been scored in PGA tournaments, and across all levels of golf history, approximately 3,011 golfers have recorded an albatross. The most recent albatross was achieved by Robby Shelton in March 2024.
The albatross is a symbol of good luck and exceptional skill in golf. It represents the pinnacle of golfing achievement, where skill, precision, and a bit of luck combine to produce a score that defies the odds. While it is incredibly challenging, requiring exceptional driving distance and accuracy, dedicated practice, careful course management, and a bit of luck can bring golfers closer to achieving this legendary feat.
Some notable albatrosses in golf history include Kevin Murray, who recorded the longest albatross in golf history at 647 yards, and Nicholas Thompson, who achieved an albatross on the 11th hole during the 2002 PGA Safeway Open. Brendan Steele also made history by scoring the first albatross in LIV Golf on the par-5 17th hole at Greenbrier. These achievements showcase the rarity and prestige associated with scoring an albatross in golf.
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An albatross is also known as a double eagle
An albatross is a golf term for a score of three strokes under par on a single hole. It is one of the rarest achievements in golf, with odds of around 6 million to 1. The term albatross, dating back to the 1800s, originates from American golfing circles. The word “bird” was slang for an excellent shot and became associated with a shot one under par, known as a "birdie". As golf evolved, new terms were coined, including “eagle” for two shots under par and “albatross” for three shots under par.
The term albatross first appeared in 1929, although “double eagle” was the preferred term by Americans after Gene Sarazen's famous 1935 Masters shot. The term "double eagle" emerged in the 1910s, years before "albatross" appeared in Scottish golf circles. One of the earliest mentions of "double eagle" was in a 1920 issue of 'The American Golfer' magazine, where it was described as scoring three under par on a hole. The term albatross is now widely used, but "double eagle" is still used by some golfers.
Albatrosses are typically achieved by scoring a hole-in-one on a par-4 or completing a par-5 in two strokes. The longest recorded albatross was scored by Michael Wallace at 715 yards. Other notable albatrosses include Nicholas Thompson's performance at the 2002 PGA Tour's Safeway Open, where he scored an albatross on the par-5 11th hole, and Xander Schauffele's albatross on the 5th hole during the final round of The American Express in 2023.
Achieving an albatross is a significant accomplishment in golf, requiring a combination of skill, precision, technique, and a bit of luck. It is a rare feat that only a select few golfers have achieved, making it a highly prized and celebrated moment in the sport.
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It is achieved by scoring three under par
An albatross in golf, also known as a double eagle, is achieved by scoring three under par. This is an incredibly rare feat, with odds of around 6 million to 1. It is considered a symbol of good luck and exceptional skill. To score an albatross, a golfer must complete a hole in three strokes below par. This is most commonly achieved by scoring a hole-in-one on a par-4 hole or by completing a par-5 hole in two strokes.
The term "albatross" dates back to the 1800s and originates from American golfing circles. The word “bird” was first used as slang for something excellent and soon became associated with shots one under par, known as "birdies". As golf evolved, additional terms were coined, such as “eagle” for two shots under par. Achieving an albatross is considered the pinnacle of golfing achievement, requiring a combination of skill, precision, and luck.
There have been several notable albatrosses in golf history. For example, Nicholas Thompson scored an albatross on the 11th hole during the 2002 PGA Safeway Open. Other notable albatrosses include those achieved by Kevin Murray, Xander Schauffele, and Brendan Steele. Since 1983, only 139 albatrosses have been recorded in PGA tournaments, with approximately 3,011 golfers achieving an albatross across all levels of golf history.
To increase your chances of scoring an albatross, it is important to use clubs that provide ideal distance and control. Left-handed golfers should not be discouraged, as handedness does not affect the odds of achieving an albatross. In addition, studying the course layout and weather conditions can also improve your chances. However, with such low odds, achieving an albatross remains an extremely challenging and rare accomplishment in the sport of golf.
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The longest recorded albatross was by Michael Wallace at 715 yards
An albatross in golf is a score of three strokes under par. It is one of the rarest achievements in golf, with only 18 players achieving it in major tournaments. The odds of achieving an albatross are around 6 million to 1, making it a highly challenging and prized accomplishment.
Michael Wallace, a 15-year-old golfer, achieved the longest recorded albatross at 715 yards. This feat was accomplished on the 12th hole at the Meadows Farms Golf Course in Locust Grove, Virginia. The hole is a par-6, with a maximum length of 841 yards, and Wallace conquered it with a driver and two swings of his 3-hybrid.
Wallace had only been playing golf for 16 months before achieving this remarkable achievement. He noticed a slight wind at his back as he prepared for his third shot, about 200 yards from the green. With a clean hit and perhaps a touch of divine intervention, Wallace made golfing history.
This achievement by Wallace is even more impressive considering the odds of a recreational player making an albatross on a conventional par-5 hole are estimated at more than one in a million. It showcases the combination of exceptional distance, accuracy, and a bit of luck required to achieve an albatross.
The previous record for the longest albatross was held by Kevin Murray, who achieved a 647-yard albatross on a par-5 hole at the Guam Navy Golf Club in 1982.
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Only 18 players have scored an albatross in major tournaments
An albatross, also known as a double eagle, is one of the rarest achievements in golf. It involves completing a hole in three strokes under par. This is most commonly achieved by scoring a hole-in-one on a par-4 hole or completing a par-5 hole in two shots. The term albatross dates back to the 1800s, originating from American golfing circles. The word “bird” was slang for something excellent and soon became associated with a shot one under par, known as a "birdie". As golf evolved, new terms were coined, including “eagle” for two shots under par and “albatross” for three shots under par.
The odds of achieving an albatross are around 6 million to 1, making it a significantly rarer feat than a hole-in-one, which has odds of 13,000 to 1. Since 1870, only 981 tournament albatrosses have been recorded. In major tournaments, only 18 players have scored an albatross, showcasing the exceptional skill and good fortune required to achieve this remarkable feat.
Some notable albatrosses in golf history include Kevin Murray, who recorded the longest albatross in golf history at 647 yards on the second hole. Nicholas Thompson achieved an albatross on the 11th hole during the 2002 PGA Tour's Safeway Open, gaining widespread attention. Xander Schauffele scored an albatross on the 5th hole during the final round of The American Express in 2023, and Brendan Steele made the first albatross in LIV Golf history on the par-5 17th hole at Greenbrier.
Achieving an albatross requires a combination of exceptional driving distance, accuracy, and a bit of luck. While it is an incredibly challenging accomplishment, mastering the right techniques and dedicated practice can bring golfers closer to this legendary feat. The albatross is a symbol of golfing greatness, representing the pinnacle of achievement where skill, precision, and luck combine to produce a score that defies the odds.
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Frequently asked questions
An albatross, also known as 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 it can also be done with a hole-in-one on a par-4.
Since 1983, 139 albatrosses have been scored in PGA tournaments. The most recent was achieved by Robby Shelton in March 2024.
The odds of achieving an albatross are around 6 million to 1, making it a very rare feat. Only 981 tournament albatrosses have been recorded since 1870.
