The Rarest Birdie: 7 Shocking Facts About The Albatross In Golf (What Is A Double Eagle?)
The albatross in golf is arguably the most mythical score in the sport, surpassing even the widely celebrated hole-in-one in terms of sheer rarity and difficulty. This extraordinary feat, also known as a "double eagle," represents a player completing a hole in three strokes under its designated par. As of today, December 21, 2025, the albatross remains a moment of pure magic, a highlight reel achievement that can instantly change the course of any tournament, from a local club championship to the biggest major on the PGA Tour.
This deep dive will explore everything you need to know about golf's rarest bird, from its origins and statistical improbability to the modern-day heroes who have successfully pulled off the "shot heard 'round the world." We'll break down the scoring, the odds, and the most famous albatrosses in golf history, ensuring you have the most current and authoritative information on this legendary achievement.
The Albatross: Definition, Scoring, and Statistical Rarity
Understanding the albatross begins with a firm grasp of golf's scoring nomenclature, which is uniquely named after birds. The albatross is the largest and rarest of the flock.
What Exactly is an Albatross or Double Eagle?
An albatross is achieved when a golfer scores three strokes under par on a single hole.
- On a Par-5 hole, an albatross is a score of 2 (a shot holed out from the fairway or tee).
- On a Par-4 hole, an albatross is a score of 1 (a hole-in-one on a par-4).
The term "albatross" is predominantly used in the United Kingdom and Europe, while its American equivalent is the "double eagle."
The Statistical Improbability: How Rare Is It?
The albatross is statistically one of the rarest feats in all of sport, making it a true anomaly. The odds of an average golfer making a hole-in-one are roughly 1 in 13,000.
For an albatross, the odds skyrocket dramatically. Depending on the data source and skill level, the probability of scoring an albatross is estimated to be between 1 in 1 million and 1 in 6 million. This makes it exponentially rarer than a hole-in-one, confirming its status as golf’s rarest bird.
The History and Etymology of Golf's Birdie Hierarchy
The naming convention for golf scores is a fascinating piece of the sport's history, and the albatross is the pinnacle of this avian terminology.
The Origin of the Term "Albatross"
The bird-themed scoring started in the early 20th century in the United States with the term "birdie" (one stroke under par), which was slang for something excellent. This was followed by "eagle" (two strokes under par), a larger, more impressive bird.
The term "albatross" was adopted by British golfers as a logical extension of this theme. The albatross is a massive seabird known for its tremendous wingspan and ability to fly for long distances without flapping its wings, symbolizing the rare, majestic, and long-traveling nature of the three-under-par shot.
Albatross vs. Condor: The Ultimate Rarity
While the albatross is incredibly rare, there is one score that is even more mythical: the Condor.
- Albatross: Three strokes under par (a 2 on a Par-5 or a 1 on a Par-4).
- Condor: Four strokes under par (a 1 on a Par-5 or a 2 on a Par-6).
A condor requires holing out a tee shot on a par-5, a feat so difficult that it is considered the rarest achievement in golf, with only a handful ever recorded in history, often on extreme dog-leg holes or high-altitude courses.
The Most Famous and Recent Albatrosses in Professional Golf
Every albatross is a highlight, but certain shots stand out for their historical significance or their impact on a tournament's outcome. These moments of brilliance add to the topical authority of the albatross.
The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" (Gene Sarazen)
The most famous albatross in golf history belongs to the legendary Gene Sarazen.
In the final round of the 1935 Masters Tournament, Sarazen hit his second shot on the par-5 15th hole into the cup from 235 yards away. This incredible shot, which was witnessed by a small crowd at the time, tied him for the lead and forced a 36-hole playoff, which he went on to win. This moment is often credited with putting The Masters on the map and is known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
Notable Albatrosses in Major Championships
The scarcity of the albatross in major championships underscores its difficulty. As of late 2025, there have been only around 19 recorded albatrosses across all four major championships dating back to 1870.
- Gene Sarazen (1935 Masters Tournament, Par-5 15th)
- Jeff Maggert (1994 Masters Tournament, Par-5 13th)
- Chen Tze-Chung (1985 U.S. Open)
- Shaun Micheel (2010 U.S. Open)
- Nick Watney (2012 U.S. Open)
- Manny Zerman (1999 The Open Championship)
- Per-Ulrik Johansson (1995 PGA Championship)
- Joey Sindelar (2006 PGA Championship)
The Most Recent Albatrosses on Tour (2024–2025)
The rarity continues into the current season, providing fresh, unique content for this topic.
- Taylor Pendrith: He made the first albatross of the 2025 PGA Tour season in January at The Sentry, holing out his second shot on the par-5 18th hole at The Plantation Course at Kapalua. This ended a 27-year albatross drought at The Sentry tournament.
- Robby Shelton: In the final round of the 2024 Valspar Championship, Shelton holed his 258-yard approach shot on the par-5 14th hole, marking one of the few albatrosses recorded on the PGA Tour that year. The PGA Tour typically sees only a handful of albatrosses each year (e.g., 5 recorded in 2024), making each one a significant event.
The Anatomy of an Albatross: Why It's So Difficult
The albatross is rare because it requires a perfect confluence of power, precision, and luck, typically on a long Par-5 hole.
The Required Shots
To score an albatross on a Par-5, a player must hit a massive drive followed by a long iron, hybrid, or fairway wood that finds the cup. This second shot often needs to travel over 200 yards, land softly, and roll directly into the hole, overcoming bunkers, water hazards, and the natural slope of the green.
Achieving this feat on a Par-4 (a hole-in-one) requires an exceptionally long Par-4, often over 300 yards, which is almost impossible for professional players unless the course is set up with a massive tailwind or the hole is severely downhill.
Topical Entities and LSI Keywords
The discussion of the albatross naturally brings up a host of related golf terms and entities that boost topical authority:
Scoring Terms: Birdie, Eagle, Bogey, Par, Double Bogey, Condor, Hole-in-One, Double Eagle.
Professional Golf Entities: PGA Tour, The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, Valspar Championship, The Sentry, Gene Sarazen, Taylor Pendrith, Robby Shelton, Augusta National, Kapalua.
Equipment and Technique: Driver, Fairway Wood, Hybrid, Long Iron, Approach Shot, Ball Flight, Pin Position, Green Speed.
In conclusion, the albatross is more than just a score; it is the ultimate expression of perfection in golf. Its extreme rarity, historical significance, and the sheer difficulty of executing a shot three strokes under par solidify its place as the sport's most legendary achievement, a true "double eagle" that few golfers will ever witness, let alone achieve, in their lifetime.
Detail Author:
- Name : Elijah O'Keefe
- Username : bailey.francesco
- Email : georgiana54@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1995-06-21
- Address : 47821 Mraz Locks North Jennifer, WY 13476-4898
- Phone : 386.453.7245
- Company : Kautzer, Blick and Roob
- Job : Teacher
- Bio : Ea qui maxime itaque sed ipsum. Qui quisquam velit dolor necessitatibus nemo nihil exercitationem.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/bgoldner
- username : bgoldner
- bio : Cupiditate modi aut illo quibusdam sunt. Quia laborum et omnis. Quos rerum quo aspernatur non.
- followers : 4786
- following : 1174
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/baby_id
- username : baby_id
- bio : Et inventore eos quia temporibus non repellat.
- followers : 5931
- following : 93
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/goldnerb
- username : goldnerb
- bio : Cum qui sed corrupti.
- followers : 4042
- following : 804
