Ava Romero
Golf is a challenging game, and some holes can be particularly difficult, resulting in high scores. While the ideal score in golf is birdies and eagles, which are, respectively, one or two strokes under par, some golfers have experienced their fair share of embarrassing scores. In this article, we will explore some of the worst golf scores recorded, providing a comforting perspective for amateur golfers who frequently find themselves putting down double-digit scores.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worst score at the Masters | Nick Dunlap, 2025 |
| Score of the above winner | 18-over-par 90 |
| Worst score at the U.S. Open | J.D. Tucker, 1898 |
| Score of the above winner | 157 |
| Worst score in PGA Tour history | Tiger Woods |
| Worst single-hole score in U.S. Open history | Ray Ainsley, 1938 |
| Score of the above winner | 19 on the par-4 16th hole |
| Worst single-hole score in PGA Tour history | John Daly, 1998 Arnold Palmer Invitational |
| Score of the above winner | 13-over par 18 |
| Worst single-hole score in Lyoness Open history | Andrey Pavlov |
| Score of the above winner | 17 |
| Worst score in a club championship | 125 |
| Worst score in nine holes | 77 |
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What You'll Learn
Amateur golfers frequently score double-digit numbers
Golf is a notoriously difficult sport, and even the most seasoned professionals can have a bad day on the course. While the ideal score in golf is "under par", it's not uncommon for amateur golfers to frequently score double digits.
A quick search reveals that many amateur golfers consider anything over 100 to be a bad score. One golfer, who plays twice a week, says that they "shoot about 95", and that most golfers they've encountered "shoot at least 100". They go on to say that they've "never" been paired with someone who shot in the 70s. Another golfer shares that their worst score was 106, and that they usually shoot in the 90s. A third golfer shares that their worst score was 130, and that they were "constantly" shooting scores of 130 and above.
In fact, scoring in the double digits is so common among amateur golfers that some professionals have experienced it too. At the 1986 FedEx St. Jude Classic, a commentator dumped five consecutive 4-irons in the water and ended up with a score of 16. John Daly, a former Open champion, once took 18 shots to get the ball in the hole at Bay Hill's par-5 6th.
While it may be embarrassing to score in the double digits, it's important to remember that even the best golfers have had their fair share of bad rounds. The key is to keep practicing and not get discouraged. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect!
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John Daly's six balls in the water led to a 13-over par
John Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Daly is known for his driving distance off the tee, his exceptionally long backswing, and the inconsistency of his play.
In 1998, during the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Daly took 18 shots to get the ball in the hole at Bay Hill's par-5 6th, a 13-over par. Six of those shots went straight into the water. Understandably, Daly was raging. Daly started the hole by hitting his driver into the lake that runs along the left side of the par-5, 543-yard hole. He walked about 30 yards ahead and took a drop. From that point, he hit five consecutive balls into the water, all of them with his 3-wood. Daly's final score for the tournament was 298, a four-round total.
Daly's behaviour on the course has been controversial at times. In 2011, he walked off during his first round at the Australian Open after hitting all of his golf balls into the water. He also walked off during his second round at the Austrian Open following a rules infringement. On a previous visit to the Australian Open in 2008, he smashed a spectator's camera.
Despite his inconsistent play and controversial behaviour, Daly continues to attract invitations to tournaments worldwide. He has won accredited pro events in South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Scotland, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and Canada.
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Nick Dunlap's resilience after the worst score at the 2025 Masters
Nick Dunlap will forever be associated with the worst score in Masters history. During the final round of the 2025 Masters, Dunlap endured a torrid time, carding a 95 to match the unwanted record set by Charles Kunkle in 1956.
To put that score into context, it is 19 shots worse than the highest score recorded by a Masters winner, and 20 shots worse than the average winning score. Dunlap's round included a triple-bogey on the par-3 4th, a quintuple-bogey on the par-4 11th, and a quadruple-bogey on the 18th, where he found the water twice.
It would have been understandable if Dunlap had allowed this disastrous round to define him and his career. Many golfers have seen their confidence shattered by a bad round, and some never recover, quitting the game entirely or suffering a permanent decline in their performance.
However, Nick Dunlap showed remarkable resilience in the wake of his record-breaking round. Just a few weeks later, he bounced back with a top-10 finish at the PGA Championship, carding a superb final-round 67 to finish just three shots behind the eventual winner. Dunlap's ability to put his Masters meltdown behind him and quickly return to form is a testament to his mental fortitude and love for the game.
In the years following the 2025 Masters, Dunlap went on to enjoy a string of successes, including multiple PGA Tour wins and a place in the top 10 of the world rankings. He credits his ability to bounce back from adversity as a key factor in his later triumphs, and his performance at the 2025 Masters has become an inspiring example of resilience for golfers and fans alike.
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Angelo's 257 total score included 27 balls in the water
Golf is a game that can be incredibly difficult, and even the most experienced players can have a bad day. While there are many strategies to improve your game, sometimes it's good to know that even the professionals can have a bad round.
When it comes to Angelos' score of 257, which included 27 balls in the water, it's hard to compare this directly with other "bad" rounds of golf, as the number of holes played is not specified. However, we can look at some of the worst scores in golf history relative to the number of holes played.
For instance, in the fourth U.S. Open, John Dunn Tucker shot a scarcely believable 157 over 72 holes. That works out to an average of around 22 shots per hole, which is certainly in the same ballpark as Angelos' score.
Another comparable score is that of Rory, who had a composite score of 61 and 78 in the Masters, for a total of 146. While this is for a smaller number of holes, it is still a sizeable score.
Perhaps the most comparable situation to Angelos' score, however, is that of Kevin Na at the 2011 Valero Texas Open. While this was only for a single hole, he drove into the trees, took an unplayable lie, and had to go back to the tee. His next shot found the same spot, and the one after that hit a tree and bounced off his leg, incurring a penalty. While the final score for this hole is not recorded, it certainly resulted in a large number of shots, similar to Angelos' experience.
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Rory's worst composite score at the Masters was 78
Golf is a challenging sport, and even the most seasoned professionals can have bad days. While it's hard to pinpoint the worst golf score in history, there are some eye-popping numbers to consider. One golfer, Angelo, scored an astonishing 257 over the course of his round, which included dumping 27 balls into the water on a single hole!
Now, when it comes to Rory's performance at the Masters, there is mention of a composite score of 78. This was indeed Rory McIlroy's worst score at the Masters, and it is a number that stands out in the world of golf. A score of 78 is not something to be ashamed of for an amateur golfer, but for a professional like McIlroy, it was a disappointing outcome.
To understand how this score came about, it's important to understand the concept of a "composite score." In this context, it refers to taking the best and worst scores a golfer achieves on each hole over multiple rounds and combining them to form a single hypothetical round. So, for example, if a golfer birdied a hole on one day but doubled it on another, both scores would be considered in the composite.
In the case of Rory McIlroy's 78, it is believed that he birdied at least one hole but doubled the next, contributing to his overall composite score. While a composite score of 78 is not his official 18-hole round score, it does highlight the inconsistency in his performance across the four days of the tournament. It is worth noting that some commenters have disputed this score, arguing that his actual worst composite score was higher, at 85.
Despite this disappointing composite score, McIlroy has had many impressive achievements in his career. He joined the ranks of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as one of only six male career Grand Slam winners. So, while he may have had lows like this worst composite score of 78, he has also experienced significant highs that showcase his golfing prowess.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the worst golf scores in the history of men's professional golf:
- Willie Chisholm scored an 18 at the 1919 US Open.
- John Daly scored a 13 at the 1998 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
- Andrey Pavlov scored a 17 at the Lyoness Open.
- An anonymous golfer scored a 13 at the Masters in 1978.
- Sergio Garcia scored a 13 at the 2017 Masters.
Here are some of the worst golf scores in the history of the U.S. Open:
- W.E. Stoddard scored a 106 in the second round in 1899.
- O. McCammon scored a 110 in the third round in 1899.
- Ray Ainsley scored a 19 on a single hole in 1938.
- Willie Anderson scored a total of 331 over 72 holes in 1901.
- J.D. Tucker scored a 157 for 18 holes in 1898.
Here are some of the worst golf scores on the PGA Tour:
- Graeme McDowell scored a 16 at the 1986 FedEx St. Jude Classic.
- An anonymous golfer scored a 16 at the RBC Canadian Open.
- Tom Weiskopf scored a 13 at the Masters in 1980.
- Tiger Woods scored an 18-over at the 2010 WGC Bridgestone Invitational.
Archaeopteryx is a golfing term that refers to scoring 15 or more over par on a single hole.
Some of the highest golf scores reported by amateur golfers include:
- A score in the 130s.
- 116.
- 108.
- 104.
- 95.
