ST. ANDREWS – Oct.14, 2004 – Benign conditions, easy pin placements and soft greens could make this the day that the Old Course record of 62 is consigned to the history books. The top professionals out there today have all the right conditions to break 60 on the world's oldest golf course at the Home of Golf.

However, the Old Course is never predictable. After the first day's play only one golfer Graeme McDowell shot less than 68 on the Old Course, matching the current record with a 62. The average score yesterday for the Old Course was 71.7 making it slightly easier than Carnoustie (average 72.03) and harder than Kingsbarns (average 70.5). On all three courses the par is 72.

The Old Course also has the most difficult par 4 and par 5 holes of all three courses in the event. On the par 4 17th, the famous Road Hole, the stroke average was 4.5 and on the par 5 5th , Hole O'Cross, the stroke average was 4.98.

This first known course record for the Old Course was 94 achieved in 1767 by James Durham, and remained the record for 86 years.

Issued by Carolyne Nurse, Communications Manager, St Andrews Links Trust, Pilmour House, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SF. Tel 01334 466666/Fax 01334 479555.