This year, the contest had a record number of applicants, with more than 1,600 from 46 states.
There have been 73 holes-in-one in the history of the contest, with a record five occurring in 2002.
They could lose the contest but a record label executive who says "I heard you guys warming up and love your songs!" could sign them.
Under Simon Cowell's deal with Fox, he has the rights to sign the winning singer and runner-up from each "American Idol" contest to a recording contract with his label, Sony BMG, a partnership between Sony Corp and Bertelsmann.
Showing the intensity of the contest, officials predicted a record turnout among Democratic voters in Texas.
The contest was attended by a record number of participants, which shows that children want to be heard and want to feel the care of their parents", Nuné Mangasaryan, Representative of UNICEF in Moldova, said.
The 46-year-old from Dungannon was speaking 554 days ahead of the Hazeltine contest when Europe will attempt a record fourth consecutive victory.
Strachan seemed to win the one-upmanship contest when he paid £4.4m - a record between Scottish clubs - for the young Hibs midfielder Scott Brown, a player Rangers had been keen to buy, but could not afford.
The incumbent freshman Republican, Spencer Abraham, and his Democratic challenger, Representative Debbie Stabenow, are on their way to spending a record $15 million on the contest.
They recorded three songs with producer Skidd Mills in Memphis, Tennessee, and after winning a local radio contest, decided to record an entire independent album with Mills.
