Old father time caught up with Nick Faldo at Wentworth this morning when he finally fell to Michael Campbell in the first round of the World Matchplay Championship after an epic battle that will go down in the annals of the 39-year-old tournament.
After the pair had battled for 42 holes yesterday, they returned to the course at the crack of dawn to finish the struggle to see who would meet defending champion Ian Woosnam in the quarter-finals.
And as the rain poured down it was the 33-year-old New Zealander who took victory in the 43rd hole - a new record. The previous longest match in the World Matchplay Championship had been 40 holes.
"I was shot." admitted the 45-year-old Faldo, who aims to win his way onto the 2004 Ryder Cup team.
"Last night I had two hours physio. My legs had more lumps than my mother's porridge. My back was tight and I was mentally shot. I had a headache as well. I played 42 holes in a day when I was 16. I could do that easily but under that pressure and that slog, it was a long way," added the Englishman.
"I did my bit. I was down nearly all day on Thursday and got it back to all square and then we had a record-breaking play-off. I had my chances."
Even for the younger Campbell, the showdown had been physically gruelling.
"I'm pretty fit," he said before facing Woosnam. "It was tough to get up at 6.30 this morning and come out here in the rain and the cold but I'm through to the second round now against Woosie and I'm looking forward to it," said Campbell.
After four holes against the tiny Welshman the two were all square.
In the Padraig Harrington - Sergio Garcia clash the Irishman jumped into an early lead, going two up after only three holes.