There is no precise, single, officially tracked number for the total number of albatrosses made in all of golf history, as comprehensive global records across all amateur and professional play do not exist. However, recorded albatross statistics in golf on major professional tours are relatively few, numbering in the low hundreds across decades of play.
Fathoming the Elusive Albatross
Golf is a game of precision and chance. Most players dream of a hole-in-one, or an eagle. But the true rarity in golf scoring is the albatross. What exactly is this mythical score?
An albatross is achieved when a player completes a hole in three strokes under par. This feat almost always happens on a par 5 hole, where the player sinks their second shot. It is also sometimes called a “double eagle.”
Albatross vs. Condor Golf
While the albatross is incredibly rare, there is an even rarer score: the condor.
- Albatross: Three strokes under par (e.g., scoring a 2 on a par 5).
- Condor: Four strokes under par (e.g., scoring a 1 on a par 5, or a 2 on a par 6).
The condor is the lowest score ever recorded in golf. It is so rare that only a handful are confirmed globally. Most condors occur on holes shaped like a horseshoe (dogleg) where the player can cut a huge corner with their drive, sometimes skipping the ball over trees or water directly onto the green for a hole-in-one on a par 5.
The Rarity of the Score: Why So Few?
To score an albatross, you need three things to happen perfectly in sequence:
- The hole must be long enough to allow a two-shot setup. This almost always means a par 5.
- The player must hit a fantastic drive.
- The player must then hole the second shot, usually from 200 yards or more.
Think about hitting a long iron or a fairway wood 200+ yards and having it go in the cup. The odds are astronomical. This is why albatross records PGA tour are small in number compared to eagles or birdies.
Albatross Statistics in Golf: A Look at Tour Data
Because official record-keeping is rigorous on major tours, we have a better grasp of how often these scores happen there.
The PGA Tour keeps tight records. Since the PGA Tour began keeping detailed records, the number of official holes-in-one has vastly outnumbered the recorded albatrosses. Historical golf hole-in-one statistics are much easier to gather because they happen more often and are easier to confirm (a single shot).
The PGA Tour has recorded just over 50 official albatrosses in its entire history. This small number highlights the extreme difficulty.
Documenting the Few: Most Albatrosses in PGA History
Tracking the most albatrosses in PGA history is slightly easier, focusing on players who have achieved this feat more than once. These golfers have experienced a unique intersection of skill and luck.
| Golfer | Number of Recorded Albatrosses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Sarazen | 1 (The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”) | Scored on the 15th hole at the 1935 Masters. |
| Nick Watney | 2 | Achieved two in his career. |
| Phil Mickelson | 2 | One in competition, one in a pro-am. |
| Many Others | 1 | The vast majority of professional golfers who have made one have only made one. |
Gene Sarazen’s Double Eagle: A Legacy Score
Gene Sarazen’s albatross on the par-5 15th hole at the 1935 Masters is perhaps the most famous albatross ever made. He holed out his second shot with a 4-wood. This shot tied him for the lead, and he went on to win the tournament in a playoff the next day. This specific moment is often cited when discussing the lowest score on a par 5 golf course conditions.
Professional Golfers with Multiple Albatrosses
Finding professional golfers with multiple albatrosses is tough because the feat is so rare. When a player makes two on a major tour, it becomes a significant point in their career history. Nick Watney is one such example, proving it can happen more than once, though still incredibly infrequently.
The Anatomy of a Low Score: How the Albatross Happens
An albatross requires a specific setup. It is almost always on a par 5. What makes a par 5 suitable for this miracle shot?
Course Design and Distance
A typical par 5 hole measures between 480 and 600 yards for men. To score a 2, the player must hit the green in two shots.
- Drive: The first shot must be long and straight, often needing to travel 300 to 350 yards.
- Second Shot: This leaves an approach shot of 150 to 250 yards. Sinking a 200-yard shot is the definition of incredible ball striking combined with fortune.
If a hole plays slightly shorter, say 470 yards, and a long hitter drives it 340 yards, they only face a 130-yard approach. This scenario slightly increases the chance of holing out, but it is still a needle in a haystack event.
The Double Albatross in Golf: A Theoretical Possibility
The term double albatross in golf is sometimes mistakenly used to refer to the condor (four under par). However, technically, the term “double albatross” would mean five under par, which is not possible on a standard course structure (par 3, 4, or 5). Since the longest standard hole is a par 6, the theoretical maximum under par on any single hole is four under (a condor). Therefore, the condor is the actual “double albatross” event people discuss in terms of golf anomalies.
The Rarest Golf Scores: Contextualizing Rarity
To appreciate the albatross, we must look at the spectrum of rare scores:
| Score Relative to Par | Name | Rarity Level | Typical Hole Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| -1 | Birdie | Common | Par 3, 4, or 5 |
| -2 | Eagle | Uncommon | Par 5 (often), Par 4 (rare) |
| -3 | Albatross (Double Eagle) | Extremely Rare | Par 5 (almost always) |
| -4 | Condor | Mythical/Near Non-Existent | Par 5 (dogleg) or Par 6 |
The lowest scores ever recorded golf events tend to involve these extreme outliers. Official records focus on professional tournaments, where the field is strong, making the successful execution of such difficult shots even more noteworthy.
Interpreting Albatross Records PGA Tour: Official Documentation
The official count on the PGA Tour is often the benchmark for this discussion. As of recent years, the count hovers around 50 to 55 confirmed scores in tournament play. This small figure shows that even the world’s best players, playing thousands of rounds a year, only achieve this once every several years across the entire tour.
When an albatross occurs in a major championship, it is often detailed extensively because it can change the leaderboard immediately.
Near Misses and Dramatic Events
Often, stories about golf rarity involve spectacular near-misses. Imagine a 230-yard second shot hitting the pin, spinning around the lip, and stopping one inch from the cup. That is the difference between a celebrated albatross and a famous near-miss. These moments often generate as much buzz as the successful hole-outs because they show the razor-thin margins involved.
Comprehending the Amateur Landscape
If we broaden the scope beyond the PGA Tour, estimating the total number of albatrosses across amateur, club, and senior tours globally becomes impossible.
Every year, thousands of rounds are played at local clubs. While no official organization tracks these, anecdotal evidence suggests albatrosses happen somewhat more frequently at the club level than on the PGA Tour. Why?
- Course Selection: Amateur players might play shorter par 5s or courses set up with less punishing pin positions.
- Luck Factor: The sheer volume of rounds played means that the natural probability of a lucky bounce or roll eventually occurs more often than in the smaller sample size of a professional event.
However, even in amateur settings, an albatross remains a once-in-a-lifetime highlight for the vast majority of golfers.
The Skill Behind the Success
While luck plays a role in any hole-out from distance, professional golfers bring specific skills that make the attempt remotely plausible.
Precision Ball Striking
Professional golfers hit their irons and fairway woods with incredible control over distance, trajectory, and spin. This precision reduces the margin of error, ensuring the ball lands in the correct zone near the hole. They are not just trying to reach the green; they are trying to place the ball within a 10-foot circle around the pin.
Yardage Calculation
The second shot for an albatross often requires precise yardage estimation. If a player is 225 yards out, they must choose the right club (often a 5-iron or 4-iron) and trust their swing completely. Knowing exactly how far the ball will travel under various weather conditions is key to positioning the ball for the best chance to drop.
Why the Number Stays Low: Obstacles to the Albatross
Several factors constantly work against a golfer making an albatross:
- Green Speed and Firmness: Professional tournament greens are often firm. A perfectly struck ball might hit the green and bounce over the back instead of checking up near the hole.
- Pin Placement: Tournament officials usually place pins in less accessible locations, guarding against low scores. A pin tucked behind a bunker or near a slope makes holing out exponentially harder.
- Pressure: Even if a player is playing well, holing out a shot from 200 yards brings intense, sudden pressure that few athletes ever experience on a single shot.
The combination of these challenges means that professional golfers often prioritize playing safely for an eagle putt rather than risking a bogey by going for the green in two on a risky second shot.
FAQ
What is the lowest score ever recorded in golf?
The lowest score ever recorded in competitive play on a standard course is a 2 on a par 5, which is an albatross. The lowest score generally acknowledged is a 1 on a par 5, which is a condor.
What is the difference between an albatross and a condor?
An albatross is three strokes under par (like a 2 on a par 5). A condor is four strokes under par (like a 1 on a par 5).
How many albatrosses have been made on the PGA Tour?
There have been slightly more than 50 officially recorded albatrosses on the PGA Tour in history.
Can a player make an albatross on a par 4?
Yes, though it is exceptionally rare. An albatross on a par 4 means scoring a 1 (a hole-in-one) on a par 4. This is much rarer than an albatross on a par 5.
Are there more historical golf hole-in-one statistics available than albatross stats?
Yes, historical golf hole-in-one statistics are far more common and easier to track because they happen much more frequently than albatrosses.