In a golf tournament, a marker is a person responsible for recording another player’s score, typically their playing partner for that day.
There are three different types of markers in a golf tournament: a playing marker, a non playing marker, and a non competing marker.
When competing players score for each other, they are considered playing markers.
For example, say Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were paired together for round 1 of the Master’s.
Tiger would be responsible for recording Rory’s score for each hole.
Rory would be responsible for recording Tiger’s score for each hole.
When someone is assigned to follow a group and keep scores for the players in the group, they are considered a non playing marker.
When someone who is not competing in the tournament is assigned to play with a tournament participant and keep their score, they are considered a non competing marker player.
The non-competing marker player is rare but is famously used in the Masters tournament, as discussed below.
Golf is a unique sport in that golfers are expected to self-govern.
Golfers are responsible for calling penalties on themselves and upholding the rules of golf to the best of their ability with very little oversight.
Using a marker is one way that golf ensures a fair and equitable playing field.
USGA Definition of a Marker
“The player’s score is kept on his or her scorecard by the marker, who is either identified by the Committee or chosen by the player in a way approved by the Committee.
usga.org
The “committee” being whomever is responsible for running the tournament.
Again, the committee almost always designates playing partners to be each others markers.
See the full rules on marker here.
The Start of a Round
When you are handed a scorecard, the name of the player you are “marking” for and the tournament date should be filled out. If handicaps are used, those will also be on the card and adjusted for the course.
Before play begins, playing partners switch cards. Players will trade cards if it’s a threesome, so they aren’t scoring for themselves.
Duties/Responsibilities of a Marker
During the Round
- Record score immediately after each hole is completed.
- Confirm with the competitor how many strokes they took after each hole.
- This way, any discrepancies can be addressed immediately, not potentially hours later, when memories have become unreliable.
At the Completion of the Round
- Confirm that the scores for each hole are correct.
- Certify the scores by signing under “Marker.”
It is not the responsibility of the marker OR the player to add up the totals for each 9 and 18. Someone from the tournament committee will do that.
Potential Issues/Penalties
Once a scorecard is signed by both the marker and player and submitted to the tournament committee, it cannot be altered without penalty.
In most tournaments, penalties can be severe if a player signs a scorecard and it is later determined that it was incorrect.
If a player signed for a score higher than they actually got, that score stands.
If a player signed for a score lower than they actually got, they are disqualified.
Related: Every Golfer’s Dream Is To End Up Here On the Second Sunday Night In April
Other Types Of Markers
Non-playing Marker
This refers to a person not in the tournament who records the score (marks) for the person in last place when an odd number of people make the cut.
The vast majority of PGA tournaments use a non-playing marker, meaning that a person just walks with the competitor and records their score.
They don’t play and are only responsible for watching the competitor and accurately recording their score.
If a player withdraws mid-round, a non-playing marker will typically be assigned to keep the score of the remaining player.
Non-competing Marker At The Masters
The Master’s Tournament is famous for using a non-competing, playing marker when an odd number of people make the cut.
Jeff Knox began playing as the marker in 2002 on the weekends at Augusta when needed.
He is an excellent golfer, holding the Augusta member tees record of 61. He actually beat Rory McIlroy on Saturday in 2014, 70 to 71.
In 2022, after a 20-year run, Knox was replaced as the Master’s marker.
Michael McDermott, a member at both Augusta National AND Pine Valley, will reportedly be taking his place.
Not much is known about McDermott other than he is in his late 40’s and he is also a very good player.
McDermott has won the famous Crump Cup at Pine Valley two times: 2012 and 2017.
Related: 19 Facts About the Masters That You Probably Didn’t Know