What Does E Mean in Masters Golf?

When you tune into the Masters, seeing an ‘E’ next to a player's name on that iconic leaderboard simply means they are at Even Par for their round or for the tournament. It's the neutral gear of golf scoring. This article will not only give you a deeper understanding of 'E' and 'par' but will also show you how to read the entire Masters leaderboard, deciphering all the numbers and colors so you can follow the action like a seasoned pro.

What Does 'E' on the Scoreboard Actually Stand For?

As we mentioned, ‘E’ stands for Even Par. To fully grasp this, you first need to understand the concept of "par," which is the foundation of golf's scoring system. Think of par as the target score - it’s the pre-determined number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to get the ball in the hole.

Every single hole on a golf course is assigned a par number, typically based on its length:

• Par 3: These are the shortest holes. An expert golfer is expected to hit the green in one shot and take two putts, totaling three strokes.
• Par 4: These are mid-length holes. The expectation is to reach the green in two shots and take two putts for a total of four strokes.
• Par 5: These are the longest holes, giving players three shots to reach the green before their two expected putts, totaling five strokes.

The "par" for the entire golf course is just the sum of the par for all 18 holes. While a local course might be a Par 70 or 71, Augusta National, where the Masters is played, is a classic Par 72 course. This means over 18 holes, a player shooting "par" will use 72 strokes.

So, when you see that ‘E’, it means a player’s score is exactly in line with that standard.

• If a player is 'E' through 9 holes (which have a par of 36 at Augusta), they have taken exactly 36 strokes.
• If a player is 'E' at the end of their round, they just shot a 72.
• If a player is 'E' at the end of the four-day, 72-hole tournament, their total score is 288 (4 rounds x 72).

The 'E' is the baseline - a solid, respectable performance against which all other scores are measured.

How to Read the Full Masters Leaderboard (Red, Black, and Green)

The real drama of the Masters leaderboard unfolds in the colors surrounding the 'E'. The scoring system is beautifully simple: your score is shown in relation to par. A quick glance can tell you immediately if a player is having a great day or a tough one.

The Colors Tell the Story

At the Masters, scores are a visual spectacle. Think of a traffic light system where you are always striving for one color.

• Red Numbers (e.g., -5): This is the color every golfer wants to see next to their name. Red means the player is under par. A score of -5 (five under par) indicates the player has taken five fewer strokes than the par for the holes they've completed. In professional golf, being "in the red" is a very good thing, it means you're making birdies and climbing the leaderboard. The deeper into the red you go, the better your position.
• The Green 'E': Unlike some tournaments that use black for even par, the Masters often displays the 'E' in its signature green. It represents the neutral ground, the perfect balance point. It’s neither good nor bad in the grand scheme, but a foundation to build on. A player at 'E' is just one birdie away from getting into those coveted red numbers.
• Black or No Color Numbers (e.g., +2): This signifies a player is over par. A score of +2 (two over par) means the player has used two more strokes than the par score. Players fight hard to stay out of the black numbers, as it a sign of struggle and lost ground on the leaders.

Key Terms You'll See on the Leaderboard

Beyond the primary scores, The Masters leaderboard has other abbreviations that tell you where each player is in their round or in the tournament.

• THRU: This simply indicates which hole a player has just completed. If you see "T. Woods, -2, THRU 14", it means Tiger is two-under-par for the day after finishing the 14th hole.
• F or 18: This means the player has finished their round for the day. At the conclusion of 18 holes, "THRU 18" becomes "F".
• TEE TIME or a time like 1:30 PM: If there's a time instead of a "THRU" number, it means the player has not yet started their round.
• (a): A lowercase 'a' in parentheses next to a player's name signifies that they are an amateur. Competing in the Masters as an amateur is one of the highest honors in golf, and these players are recognized with this distinction on the board.
• CUT: After the first two rounds (36 holes), the field is reduced. The "cut line" is typically set at the score of the 50th-place player and anyone tied with them. Any player with a score higher than the cut line is cut from the tournament and does not get to play on the weekend. The score of 'E' is almost always safe to make the cut.
• WD: This means a player has withdrawn from the tournament, usually due to injury or another personal reason.

Beyond Just Numbers: The Lingo of Scoring

As a coach, I find that understanding the special vocabulary of scoring helps people connect more deeply with the game. These terms describe the scores on individual holes and are what ultimately create the plus, minus, or 'E' scores on the leaderboard.

Here’s a quick guide, from best to worst:

• Albatross (or Double Eagle): The rarest score in golf. This means you completed a hole in three strokes under par (like getting a 2 on a Par 5).
• Eagle: An excellent score of two strokes under par on a hole (e.g., a 2 on a Par 4 or a 3 on a Par 5). Eagles can cause massive jumps up the leaderboard.
• Birdie: This is the golden standard for scoring well. It means you were one stroke under par on a hole. A professional round filled with birdies will result in a deep red number.
• Par: As we know, this is the expected score. If a player makes a par, their overall score relative to par (their +, E, or - score) does not change. That’s why pars are often described as “score-savers.”
• Bogey: A very common slip-up, meaning a score of one stroke over par. One birdie cancels out one bogey, returning a player to even.
• Double Bogey: Things are starting to get messy here. This is a score of two strokes over par. These are "big numbers" that can seriously derail a round.

When you see a player at -4, they didn't just magically get there. It’s a mix and match of these scores. For example, a player could get to -4 by making 6 birdies (+6) and 2 bogeys (-2), or by making two eagles (+4) and nothing else. Watching this unfold hole-by-hole is a huge part of the fun.

Why 'E' is More Than Just a Score

To the casual fan, a score of 'E' might seem boring compared to the exciting red numbers. But from a strategic, coaching perspective, 'E' is an incredibly important score at a major championship like the Masters.

Staying in the Hunt

Augusta National is a demanding golf course with treacherous greens and punishing lies. On many of its difficult holes, a par is an excellent score. When a player maintains a score of 'E' through a tough stretch of holes, known as "Amen Corner" (holes 11, 12, and 13), they are gaining ground on anyone making bogeys. 'E' keeps you in the game and provides a stable platform from which to attack the more scoreable Par 5s.

The Art of Course Management

The best players know they can’t be aggressive on every single hole. Amateurs often make the mistake of trying to make a birdie on every hole, which leads to big mistakes. A pro knows that on a tough Par 4 playing into the wind, the goal isn't birdie - it's par. Grinding out pars on the hard holes and waiting patiently for opportunities on the easier ones is the essence of course management. An even-par round of 72 at the Masters, consisting of 18 pars, is a fantastic day's work that puts a player in a great position.

Making the Weekend

For players who aren’t at the very top of the leaderboard after Thursday and Friday, the primary goal is simply to make the cut and get to play on the weekend. Hovering around the cut line is one of the most stressful situations in golf. Being at 'E', or even +1 or +2, is often the difference between getting a big tournament paycheck and heading home empty-handed. In that context, seeing an 'E' can feel like a massive victory.

Final Thoughts

In the end, that 'E' on the Masters leaderboard stands for Even Par, serving as the calm benchmark in a sea of exciting red numbers and frustrating black ones. By understanding 'E', along with par, birdies, and the cut line, you can transform your viewing experience and appreciate the strategic battle unfolding on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.

You can apply the same strategic mindset of the pros - like knowing when to aim for 'E' by playing for a safe par - to your own game. A big part of that is removing guesswork from your course management. Having been a coach for many years, I built Caddie AI to provide that pro-level strategy right in your pocket. Whether you're trying to plot the smartest way to play a tricky hole or analyzing a photo of a challenging lie in the rough, our AI gives you clear, simple guidance to help you navigate the course with more confidence and turn potential "double bogeys" into manageable "pars."