What is an Albatross in Golf?

Last updated on November 3rd, 2023 at 08:23 am

In golf, an albatross (also a Double Eagle) occurs when a golfer gets the ball into the hole three strokes under par. It is one of the rarest things to happen during a round of golf, so it always gets lots of attention when it occurs.

So, what is an example of an albatross shot in golf? How rare is it to happen? What are other types of shots similar to an albatross?

Keep reading to learn more about an albatross in golf.

Table of Contents

What is an Example of an Albatross Shot in Golf?

An albatross occurs when a golfer gets the ball into the hole three strokes under par. For example, on a par 5, an albatross will arise if it only took two strokes to get the ball in. If the hole was a par six and you got the ball into the hole in three strokes, it will also be an albatross.

Can You Get a Hole-in-One and a Double Eagle on the Same Shot?

Yes, you can achieve both a hole-in-one and a Double Eagle on the same golf shot. For example, on par 4, you can hit a hole-in-one and achieve an albatross. In January 2022, Rowan McCarthy recorded a hole-in-one and albatross on the same shot.

Why is it Called an Albatross?

Golf uses bird names to score certain shots, so they call it an albatross or a double eagle. For example, a Birdie means that you got the ball into the hole one shot under par. Meanwhile, an Eagle occurs when you take less than two shots to score what the par says. Finally, you have the Condor, which means that you got the golf ball into the hole with four shots under par.

How Rare is an Albatross Shot in Golf?

According to the Tamos Hanter Golf, your odds of making an albatross shot is about one in six million. To put that in perspective, you have a 12,500 to 1 chance of making a hole-in-one in golf, according to Ahno.com. Getting a hole-in-one, while incredibly impressive, isn’t even close to what an albatross is in the odds.

If you are an amateur golfer looking to join the double eagle club, know that the odds aren’t in your favor. However, as of January 2022, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus aren’t members, so anyone has a chance.

Is There Anything Better than an Albatross Shot in Golf?

The rarest shot in golf belongs to a condor, where you are four under par. As of January 2022, there have only been six players to achieve that. Interestingly, all of the six players were amateur golfers.

Who Got the First Albatross in a Major Tournament?

Gene Sarazen is the first professional player in golf history to get an albatross in a major tournament during the final round of play. He accomplished that feat in 1935 when he got a 235-yard double eagle into the 15th hole at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. That accomplishment by Gene Sarazen sent the tournament into a 36-hole playoff, where he eventually won.

Has Anyone got an Albatross During the Masters’ Tournament?

As of January 2022, four professional golfers achieved a double eagle during a match. Their names were Gene Sarazen, Bruce Devlin, Jeff Maggert, and Louis Oosthuizen. The last time this took place was in 2012.

Has Anyone got an Albatross in the U.S. Open?

Three players got a double eagle during the U.S. Open as of January 2022. Their names are Chen Tze-Chung, Shaun Micheel, and Nick Watney. The most recent occurrence of the double eagle in the U.S. Open was in 2012.

Has Anyone got an Albatross in The Open Championship?

Eight professional golfers got a double eagle during The Open Championship as of January 2022. The players’ names include Young Tom Morris, Jonny Miller, Manny Zerman, Greg Own, Greg Evans, Paul Lawrie, and Bill Rogers.

Has Anyone got an Albatross in the PGA Championship?

As of January 2022, three players accomplished an albatross shot in the PGA Championship. Those players are Joey Sindelar, Per Ulrik Johansson, and Darrell Kestner.

Has Anyone Women Golfers got this on an LPGA Tour?

As of January 2022, four women were able to accomplish an albatross. The four women are Dawn Coe-Jones, Asa Gottmo, Karen Stupples, and Vikki Laing. Three out of the four times it has occurred came from the Women’s British Open.

How to Get an Albatross Shot on the Golf Course?

Typically, golfers will get a double eagle on a par-5 hole on their second shot. The first shot puts them in a favorable spot on the green usually goes over the dogleg on the course. The second shot that they take is the one that syncs the ball into the hole.

Similar Golf Shots to Know About

Quadruple Bogey: Takes four more strokes to get the ball into the hole than what the par states
Triple Bogey: Takes three more stokes than the par states to get the ball into the hole
Double Bogey: Occurs when it took two more strokes to get the ball into the hole than what the par was for initially
Bogey: Means it took one more stroke to get the ball into the hole than the par’s saying
Par: Took the exact number of strokes as the park states
Birdie: Took one less stroke to get the golf ball into the hole than what the par was for initially
Eagle: Means it took two fewer strokes to get the ball into the hole
Condor: The rarest shot in the game. It took you four fewer strokes to get the ball in than the par’s saying.

Conclusion: What is an Albatross in Golf?

In summary, a double eagle accomplishment is one of the rarest shots in golf. To achieve this achievement, you need to hit a perfect shot onto the fairway and then hit another shot directly into the hole on a par five. You will need to hit a hole-in-one directly on a par four hole.

Whether playing or watching a professional tournament in the stands, you can appreciate just how rare this accomplishment is for anyone to achieve. If you are fortunate enough to attend this feat or accomplish it yourself at your local country club, you are part of golf history forever.