An eagle is 2 strokes under par on a single hole. Par-3 in 1 shot (a hole-in-one), par-4 in 2 shots, par-5 in 3 shots.
Eagles are rare. PGA Tour players make them on about 0.5-1% of holes, and most of those happen on par-5s. For a 15-handicap amateur, expect maybe 1-2 eagles per year.
Eagle vs birdie vs albatross
| Score | Strokes relative to par | PGA Tour frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Albatross | -3 | ~0.001% of holes |
| Eagle | -2 | 0.5-1% of holes |
| Birdie | -1 | 15-25% of holes |
| Par | 0 | 45-55% of holes |
| Bogey | +1 | 15-25% of holes |
Eagles are 20-30x rarer than birdies. The name follows the bird-size theme in golf scoring: bigger bird = rarer score.
Where eagles happen
Par-5s produce about 85% of all eagles on the PGA Tour. The reason: players can reach par-5 greens in 2 shots, leaving an eagle putt. On par-4s, you'd need to hole your approach shot, which is much harder.
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Par-5 eagle breakdown:
- Reaching the green in 2 shots and sinking the putt: most common eagle path
- Holing out from the fairway on the 2nd shot: rarer, but happens several times per Tour season
- Par-4 eagles: usually from holing an approach shot from 100-175 yards
- Par-3 eagles: this is a hole-in-one, covered separately
How to give yourself eagle chances
On par-5s
You need to reach the green in 2 shots. For most amateurs, that means the hole needs to be under 500 yards and you need a carry distance of 200+ yards with your fairway wood or hybrid.
If the green is guarded by water or bunkers on the front, laying up to 80-100 yards and pitching close gives you a better birdie chance and avoids the big number. Going for the green in 2 only makes sense when the miss doesn't cost you more than a stroke.
On par-4s
Short par-4s (under 330 yards) sometimes let you drive the green or get close enough for a realistic eagle putt. On longer par-4s, your eagle chances come from holing an approach shot, which isn't something you can plan for.
Origin of the term
The word "eagle" entered golf around 1922, following the same bird-naming convention as "birdie" (1903). Since an eagle is rarer and more impressive than a birdie, golfers chose a larger bird. The pattern continued with albatross for 3 under par.
Image credit: Unsplash
Famous eagles
Gene Sarazen's "shot heard round the world" at the 1935 Masters: a 235-yard 4-wood on the par-5 15th that went in for a double eagle (albatross). It led to a playoff he won, and it made Augusta's 15th hole famous.
Phil Mickelson's 6-iron from the pine straw on the 13th hole at the 2010 Masters. He threaded it through a gap in the trees from 207 yards to 4 feet, then made the eagle putt. The shot is considered one of the most audacious in Masters history.
FAQ
Is a hole-in-one an eagle?
On a par-3, yes. A hole-in-one on a par-3 is an eagle (2 under). On a par-4, a hole-in-one would be an albatross (3 under). On a par-5, it would be a condor (4 under), and only a handful have ever been recorded.
How rare is an eagle for amateurs?
A scratch golfer might make 5-10 eagles per year. A 15-handicap might make 1-2. A 25-handicap might go years without one. Most amateur eagles happen on short par-5s.
What's the symbol for eagle on a scorecard?
A double circle around the score. Birdie gets a single circle. Bogey gets a single square.
For the full scoring system, see our golf scoring terms guide. If you're working on the fundamentals, start with how to swing a golf club.
