Andrey Pavlov's 17 still 7 short of record score

Somewhat surprisingly, Andrey Pavlov's 12-over-par 17 is three short of the European Tour record, and seven shy of the biggest score ever recorded in America

Many of us have had nightmare holes, especially if we're still a bit stiff heading down the first, but spare a thought for Andrey Pavlov, who racked up 17 stokes on the par 5 first hole in the European Tour's Lyoness Open.

Playing on a tournament invite, the Russian had scored 71 in the first round and started the day just six shots off the Gregory Bourdy's lead, but that soon changed when he found the water six times on the 506-yard hole first hole at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg.

Things could be worse though for the 28-year-old, who despite his second round total of 90, still sits five places off the bottom of Lyoness Open leaderboard.

Surprisingly, his 12-over-par effort isn't even the highest score in European Tour history, an honour that still belongs to Philippe Porquier, who had a 20 during the 1978 French Open.

At +17 for the event, Pavlov will beat his 26-over-par total at this event 12 months ago, however, it will still mark his 15th missed cut in 15 attempts on both the European and Challenge Tours.

Both Pavlov and Porquier can at least take some comfort from their efforts by looking over the pond, where Ray Ainsley and Tommy Armour have both taken 23 shots on a single hole.

Armour, who won three majors, managed his feat at the 1927 Shawnee Open, while Ainsley suffered his nightmare at the 1938 US Open.