You're tracking your favorite golfer's score online during a big tournament, and then you see it: a tiny asterisk (*) right next to their name. It’s a small detail, but it can completely change how you interpret the state of play. This article will explain exactly what that symbol means on a golf leaderboard, breaking down why it’s there, covering other common shorthand you’ll encounter, and helping you read the leaderboard like a seasoned pro.
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What the Asterisk on a Leaderboard Really Means
In the simplest terms, the asterisk (*) on a golf leaderboard signifies that a player started their round on the back nine, typically on the 10th tee, instead of the traditional 1st tee.
That's the entire secret. It's not an indication of a special exemption, a penalty, or an amateur status. It’s purely logistical information that provides critical context about where a player is on the golf course.
But why does this happen? In most professional tournaments with large fields (like the first two rounds of a PGA Tour event), there isn't enough daylight to have every single golfer tee off from the 1st hole in a single file line. To manage time and get everyone through their 18 holes, tournament officials use what’s called a "two-tee start."
One group of players (the morning wave) starts their rounds from the 1st tee.
Simultaneously, another group of players starts their rounds from the 10th tee.
The asterisk is the visual cue that distinguishes the players who began on the 10th tee from those who started on the 1st. In the afternoon, the groups often switch, with those who played the back nine first in the morning starting on the 1st tee, and vice versa.
A Practical Example
Imagine you're watching The PLAYERS Championship. The leaderboard shows:
Scottie Scheffler: -4 thru 9
Rory McIlroy: -3* thru 9
Without understanding the asterisk, you might just think Scheffler is one shot ahead, and both players have completed nine holes. But with that tiny star, you now know much more:
Scheffler started on hole #1 and has just played holes 1 through 9. He is now making "the turn" and heading to the 10th tee.
McIlroy started on hole #10 and has just played holes 10 through 18. He is now making "the turn" and heading to the 1st tee for his final nine holes.
This context is invaluable because some nines can play significantly easier or harder than others. If the back nine is notoriously difficult, McIlroy's -3 might be the more impressive performance, and he's now heading to the (potentially) easier front nine with a chance to make a big move up the leaderboard.
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How to Interpret "Thru" and Other Key Leaderboard Symbols
The asterisk rarely works alone. It's part of a system of shorthand that efficiently communicates the status of every player in the field. Understanding these symbols is what separates a casual fan from someone who can really follow the strategic ebb and flow of a tournament.
A Quick Guide to Leaderboard Shorthand
Here are the most common terms and symbols you'll see on any golf leaderboard, whether it's on TV, online, or on a mobile app.
Thru: This is arguably the most important column on a live leaderboard. It indicates how many holes a player has completed in their current round. If it says "Thru 12," the player is currently playing their 13th hole.
* (Asterisk): As we've covered, this tells you the player started their round on the 10th tee. You'll almost always see it paired with the "Thru" information (e.g., "Thru 9*").
F: This stands for "Finished." The player has completed all 18 holes of their round, and their score for the day is final. On some leaderboards, a simple dash (-) is used instead of an "F" to signify a finished round for a previous day's score. The current score to par is now their post on the board.
E: Signifies a score of "Even Par." If a player's score is "E", it means they are at 0 for the tournament or for the day. It's a clean slate.
Tee Time (e.g., 1:15 PM): If you see a specific time instead of a "Thru" number, it means the player has not yet started their round. The time shown is their scheduled start time.
CUT: After the first two rounds (36 holes) of a standard tournament, the field is reduced. Players who score well enough to "make the cut" continue to play on the weekend. Those below the cut line are eliminated. You'll often see a "CUT LINE" projected on the leaderboard throughout the day.
MDF: This stands for "Made cut, did not finish." It’s a less common rule, sometimes invoked when a very large number of players make the 36-hole cut. A secondary cut after the third round trims the field further.
Putting It All Together: A Live Leaderboard Scenario
Let's use our newfound knowledge to analyze a hypothetical leaderboard halfway through Friday's second round.
Justin Thomas (-8, F): He is the "leader in the clubhouse." His round is over, and he has set the score to beat at 8-under par. He can relax and watch the rest of the field try to catch him.
Jordan Spieth (-7, thru 14): Spieth had a traditional start on the 1st tee (no asterisk). He is the current on-course leader, numerically. He is playing his 15th hole and has four holes left to try and pick up at least one more birdie to tie Thomas for the lead.
Viktor Hovland (-6, thru 16*): The asterisk tells us Hovland started on the 10th tee. He has played 16 holes, so he just finished hole #7 (his 16th of the day) and is heading to #8 and #9 to finish his round. He needs two birdies in his last two holes to tie Thomas.
Jon Rahm (-6, F): Like Thomas, Rahm has finished his round and holds a clubhouse score of 6-under par.
Collin Morikawa (-5, thru 9*): This is where it gets interesting. Morikawa is at -5 after his first nine holes (holes 10 through 18). He’s three shots behind the clubhouse leader but has nine holes left to play – the entire front nine. He is in a great position to make a charge up the leaderboard during his second nine.
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While the asterisk is standard for professional tours using a two-tee start, you might wonder about other formats, like the charity scrambles or club events many amateur golfers play.
Most of these events use a "shotgun start," where every group tees off at the exact same time but from a different hole. One group may start on hole #4, another on #12, another on #1, and so on. In this format, an asterisk is generally not needed. The concept of "starting on the back nine" is irrelevant because players start all over the course.
Instead, the "Thru" number or simply a total score becomes the most important piece of information on a live-scoring app for these events. It signals how much of the round a team has completed, no matter where they began.
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At the end of the day, that small asterisk is a critical piece of the storytelling puzzle in a golf tournament. It provides an immediate layer of context that tells you not just what a player has scored, but how and where they achieved it.
It allows you to:
Understand a player's true position on the course.
Identify potential advantages or disadvantages based on course difficulty.
Anticipate who has a realistic chance to charge up the leaderboard late in the day.
It turns a simple list of names and numbers into a dynamic narrative of the day's action. The next time you're following a tournament, keep an eye out for the asterisk. You'll find you have a much deeper appreciation for the flow and strategy of the competition.
Final Thoughts
The asterisk on a golf leaderboard is a simple but powerful tool, indicating that a player started their round on the back nine instead of the front. By combining this knowledge with the "Thru" column and other symbols, you can fully grasp the subtle dynamics of a professional tournament and watch the story unfold like an analyst.
Understanding the leaderboard tells you the real-time story of a tournament, and we believe understanding your own game can be just as empowering. That's why we created Caddie AI. Our app provides you with the kind of deep insight the pros get, but for your own rounds. We help you make smarter on-course decisions and get instant advice for any shot you face, answering your golf questions 24/7 so you can take the guesswork out of your game and play with more confidence and enjoyment.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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