Greg Norman simply does not know if he can repeat last year's Open Championship heroics, but he is certain no-one will match his 63 at Turnberry in 1986.
At the age of 53, Norman amazingly led by two shots going into the final round at Birkdale 12 months ago, before eventually finishing third behind Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter.
The former World Number One won his first Open Championship at Turnberry 23 years ago, carding a second round of 63 in bad weather which Jose Maria Olazábal described as "out of this world".
But even with the advances in technology and equipment, the Australian does not believe that score - still the joint lowest in Major Championship history - will be matched this week.
"If you go back there's very few scores in the low to mid-60s on this golf course, except in 1977 with Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus (the famous 'Duel in the Sun') and the golf course was in very accessible condition then.
"But of the other Opens around here, there haven't been too many low scores and I don't see it this week either. You only have to venture off the fairway nine feet, ten feet, and you might lose your ball.
"Not too many drivers are going to be used. There are going to be a lot of long irons into some of these greens, from anywhere between 160, 190, 200 yards, so to attack the flags when they start putting them behind these bunkers is going to be tough as well."
Twelve months ago Norman was treating The Open as part of an extended honeymoon with new wife Chris Evert, and a lack of any expectations no doubt helped his unlikely performance throughout the week.
But the 54 year old has no idea if he is capable of recreating that level of performance once again after limited preparation.
"I don't know, to tell you the honest truth," Norman added. "I wish I could sit here and say yes or no. It's not just the fact that I don't feel good about myself or my game, it's just that I don't know.
"This year I spent a little bit more time practising in Florida, where it was 98 degrees and 98 per cent humidity and no wind. You go through about eight gloves in a practice session. So I came over to Ireland, went to Doonbeg and stayed there for a couple of days and it was miserable weather, blowing about 30mph and raining so I didn't do much practice there.
"So it's similar preparation to last year, but in a different location."
One man confident he can win is American Jim Furyk, who believes only a poor Saturday back nine last year cost him the chance of victory.
The 2003 US Open Championship winner was only three off the lead heading into the weekend at Royal Birkdale but a seven over 43 after the turn in his third round proved decisive.
He teed off on the last day five strokes behind defending champion and eventual winner Padraig Harrington but still stood a chance had he picked up shots down the stretch.
Furyk, in fact, had just one birdie and 15 pars in his final 16 holes and finished fifth, seven adrift of Harrington.
That was his second top five finish in three years having come fourth in 2006, which matched his previous best performances in 1997 and 1998.
Now, after 13 Open Championship appearances, the former World Number Two feels he stands more of a chance than ever going into the opening round at Turnberry.
“I think the difference between consistently coming in the top ten and winning has a lot to do with controlling the ball and getting some putts to go in,” he said.
“You need a couple of good breaks here and there but overall it is about playing four really solid rounds in these conditions. When I’m playing well that is one of my strengths but you still have to go out there and hit the fairways.
“Last year I had a back nine on Saturday that slipped away when I shot 43. Those nine holes cost me the chance to win it. There was a time on the back nine of the final day last year when I thought I could do it if I could make some birdies and the others struggled.
“Had I made a few and posted a score I would have been tough to catch but it didn’t turn out that way. Paddy (Harrington) went on a charge at the end of the round (he was four under for his last six holes) and so it probably wouldn’t have mattered. But I would have liked to have posted something to make him think about it.”
