How Rare Is An Albatross In Golf

Albatrosses are a rarity on golf courses. Estimates suggest that they make up less than 1 percent of all golfers, and they are even more rare on courses where birdie opportunities are plentiful. Even if you do manage to hit one, the odds of making a birdie are very slim.

How Rare Is an Albatross in Golf?

A golfer who scores a 3-under-par on only one hole is awarded the title of albatross. That means scoring a “2” on par 5 or completely nailing a par 4.There’s no doubt that an albatross in golf is so rare; a lot rarer than a hole-in-one, even!Additionally, it’s only possible to score an albatross on par 4 or par 5 holes. However, it’s even rarer to score it on par 6 and par 7 holes. That’s not because it’s harder to achieve, but because par 6 and par 7 holes are rare to find.To further understand the rarity of the situation, imagine this: There are only a handful of cases in which a person can have two identical twin brothers.There are an estimated 450 million rounds of golf played in the United States each year. That number translates to about 30,000 rounds per course.The number of scored albatrosses per year is quite low, usually only a few hundred. In reality, only 10% of golfers hit the green in two shots on a par 5 hole!

The Origin of the Name “Albatross”

So, what’s with all the bird names, you ask? You see, back in the 19th century, the slang word for something cool or wonderful was “bird.” So, when golf started getting popular among people, the term “birdie” was given to the one under par score.Similarly, the bird theme carried on with naming better scores with more prestigious bird names. Consequently, now we call the two shots under par score an eagle, and the three shots under par score an albatross (or a double eagle).Aside from bird names, the score of one over par also has a name, which is a bogey. Similarly, a double and a triple bogey are the names for two and three shots over par.

Albatrosses in Major Tournaments

Throughout the history of golf, there have been only 18 albatrosses scored in championships. The last one was recorded at the 2012 US Open.Albatrosses are not common in those championships because they often feature long and complicated courses.

Here’s a table of all albatrosses scored in major tournaments:

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

The “shot heard ’round the world” refers to Gene Sarazen’s albatross shot that he scored more than 85 years ago at the Augusta National court during the Masters Tournament.In the final round, Gene Sarazen scored the double eagle when he took the 4-wood shot from 235 yards away.

Two Albatrosses in the Same Tournament

Two albatrosses were recorded happening in the same tournament in 2015. This happened at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.Zach Johnson scored his albatross in round 4 on the 16th hole, following Daniel Berger, who scored his albatross in round 3 on the 6th hole.

Has Tiger Woods Ever Scored an Albatross?

Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time, so you would think that he has scored at least one albatross. Surprisingly, he never did!Tiger Woods has never scored an albatross on the PGA Tour, but he almost did in 2015. Back then, he ended up scoring an eagle finishing second behind Brooks Koepka. That’s when the ball landed only 7 inches away from the pin at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

What Is Rarer Than an Albatross?

The rarest shot in golf is called a condor. It’s the score of four under par, which happens when a golfer scores a hole-in-one on a par 5 or 2 on a par 6.Incredibly, it happened six times in the history of golf, five of which were aces on a par 5. The sixth one was scored by Kevin Pon, a 10 handicapper who is now the first and only golfer to achieve a condor on a par 6.

Conclusion

When you play golf, you compete with yourself and with others to see who can score higher. The sport is all about upping your previous scores and stepping up your game.Albatross is a tricky shot to pull off, but it’s not impossible. When it happens, everyone watching is amazed and the player who scores it feels great. Not to mention, it’s a pretty cool experience to hit one of these shots.

Paige Cooke

Welcome! I’m Paige Cooke, and I’m delighted to have you here on mohicanhillsgolfclub.net. As a fervent golfer with years of experience, I have a deep admiration for the sport and a comprehensive understanding of its equipment. With this expertise, I established this blog to serve as a mentor and advisor to fellow golf enthusiasts.