Well, let me tell ya somethin’ about this here “asterisk golfer” thing. I ain’t no fancy golf expert, ya know? I’m just a plain ol’ person, but I watch the golf on the TV sometimes when the soaps aren’t on. And I see them fellers hittin’ that little white ball all over the place. And sometimes, there’s this star thingy, like a little snowflake, next to their names on the big board. They call it an “asterisk.” Sounds fancy, but what does it really mean?
So, what’s this asterisk all about? From what I gather, listenin’ to them announcers yap on and on, that there asterisk ain’t just for decoration. It means somethin’, though sometimes it means different things. Confusin’, ain’t it?

Sometimes, it just means the feller started playin’ on the back nine, ya know, the tenth hole instead of the first. Why? I dunno. Maybe they were late for their tee time, or maybe they just felt like it. It’s like startin’ a story in the middle, I guess. But it all evens out in the end, they still gotta play all 18 holes.
- Started on the 10th hole: That’s one thing that little star could mean.
- Won fancy tournaments: Them fellers with lots of stars next to their name, they’re the real deal. Means they won them big money tournaments, the “Rolex Series” they call ’em. Fancy watches, fancy golf.
Now, on them fancy tours, like the PGA and all them others, them stars can mean somethin’ else entirely. If a feller’s got a whole bunch of ’em, like little sparkly diamonds next to his name, that means he’s won a bunch of them big, important tournaments. The kind with big money prizes and fancy trophies. They call ’em “Rolex Series” events, probably ’cause they give out them fancy watches. The more stars, the more of them fancy tournaments the feller’s won. It’s like gettin’ gold stars in school, but for rich fellers hittin’ golf balls.
And then there’s this handicap thing. Now, I don’t rightly understand all the ins and outs of it, but it’s somethin’ about makin’ the game fair for everyone, even if you ain’t no Tiger Woods. If you’re just startin’ out, or if you ain’t that good, they give you a handicap, like a head start. And that asterisk, sometimes it shows up next to your score to show it’s countin’ towards that handicap. It’s like sayin’, “This score matters, pay attention!”
What does it mean for regular folks like me? Well, not a whole lot, to be honest. I ain’t playin’ in no fancy tournaments. I ain’t got no handicap. I just watch the fellers on TV. But it’s good to know what them stars mean, so I can understand what them announcers are talkin’ about. Makes me feel a little bit smarter, ya know?
And all them golf words! They got words for everythin’. Every kinda shot, every part of the course, every way to keep score. It’s like they made up their own language just to make it sound complicated. They got “eagles” and “birdies” and somethin’ called a “double eagle,” which I reckon is better than a regular eagle, but who knows? And then they got “bogeys” and all sorts of other things. It’s enough to make your head spin!
So, the next time you see that little asterisk next to a golfer’s name, you’ll know it ain’t just a pretty little star. It’s a sign, a little clue to what’s goin’ on. Maybe the feller started on the back nine, maybe he’s won a bunch of big tournaments, or maybe his score is countin’ towards his handicap. It’s all part of the game, this complicated, fancy game of golf. Me? I’m just happy watchin’ from my couch. Less walkin’ that way.
In simple words, that little star next to a golf player’s name ain’t just for looks. It’s got meanings, like startin’ at hole number 10, winnin’ big tournaments, or it’s about your handicap. It’s all part of this golf game, which ain’t always easy to understand. But knowing a bit more makes watchin’ it on TV more fun, don’t ya think?

Tags: [golf, asterisk, PGA Tour, DP World Tour, golf handicap, golf terminology, Rolex Series, golf scoring, golf leaderboard, golf tournaments]