Ireland's Des Smyth, the oldest ever winner on the European Tour, continued to defy the ravages of time in final qualifying for the Open Championship today.
Smyth, who won the Madeira Island Open in March this year aged 48 years and 34 days, insists he is only keeping his game in shape for the lucrative seniors circuit when he turns 50.
But he proved once again he can still compete on the main tour with a course record 64 this morning at St Anne's Old Links.
Smyth, who made his Open debut 26 years ago and finished fourth at Royal Troon in 1982, carded eight birdies in his flawless round, adding it to an opening 71 yesterday.
At nine-under par he was looking good to claim one of the 33 qualifying places available at the four final qualifying courses with only American Jeff Maggert ahead of him at St Anne's.
Maggert, joint fifth behind Tom Lehman when the Open was last staged at Lytham in 1996, added a 65 to his opening 69 while Australian Richard Green was one behind Smyth after rounds of 67 and 69.
Smyth's compatriot Philip Walton had not fared so well, withdrawing after a 78 yesterday at Southport & Ainsdale.
Another Ryder Cup player had also missed out, Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin adding a 74 to his 75 to be one over par at Fairhaven where former European Tour rookie of the year Scott Henderson was setting the pace on nine under.
Henderson, who followed in the footsteps of Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal as top tour rookie in 1997, faced an anxious wait this afternoon to see if that was good enough after also coming through regional qualifying today. PA