St. Andrews, Scotland – They leaned out of store-top windows, crammed onto hotel balconies and filled every inch of space along the 18th hole at St. Andrews to witness a historic moment at the home of golf.
First came the farewell of Jack Nicklaus, the greatest champion the game has known, ending his competitive career Friday by missing the cut at the British Open. Before the tears could dry, Tiger Woods re-emerged as the dominant force he was five years ago by ripping apart the Old Course to build a four-shot lead.
And so the torch was passed, just as it was when Nicklaus bowed out of the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and Masters, all of those won by Woods.
Nicklaus at least went out on his own terms. Determined to finish with a birdie, he struck his signature pose – putter raised in his left hand – when the 15-foot putt curled into the right side of the cup.
“I knew that hole would move wherever I hit it,” Nicklaus said.
Thirty minutes later, Woods saved par from the Valley of Sin to polish off a bogey-free round of 5-under-par 67 that gave him his largest 36-hole lead at a major since his magical run in 2000.
“I still have to take care of my own business, and that’s a lot out here on this golf course,” Woods said. “You have enough issues out there to worry about.”
Nicklaus and Woods finally met in the interview room – fittingly, as the Golden Bear was leaving.
“Nice playing,” Nicklaus told him, extending his right hand.
“Thank you, sir,” Woods replied as they shook hands.
“You know, that’s my best round of the year!” Nicklaus said proudly. “And I still didn’t make the cut.”
But he sure got an emotional send-off on a mostly sunny, crisp afternoon at St. Andrews.
It started on the first hole, when the packed grandstand along the right side of the fairway rose and applauded as Nicklaus walked by in an argyle sweater, similar to the one he wore in 1978 when he won at St. Andrews. It traveled around the Old Course until he got the loudest cheer of all – when he strode atop the Swilcan Bridge.
“You saw the greatest player who has ever played the game come up the 18th hole,” Tom Watson said.
The birdie gave Nicklaus an even-par 72, and he finished at 147 to miss the cut by two shots.
It was his 164th major championship, and it was in these Grand Slam events that Nicklaus defined the modern standard for greatness. He won 18 professional majors, and even more staggering was his 19 times as the runner-up.
“He’s been the bench mark for every player that’s ever played the game, at least in my generation,” said Woods, who already is halfway to Nicklaus’ record and looks as though he might get his 10th major this week.
The departure of Nicklaus won’t siphon all the drama from St. Andrews.
Woods, who was at 11-under 133 after wasting birdie chances on his last two holes, will play in the final pairing Saturday with Colin Montgomerie. The Scot got the second-loudest cheers as he birdied three of his final five holes for a 67 that put him at 137.
The last time they were in the final group together at a major was the third round of the 1997 Masters, Woods’ first full year as a pro, when Monty confidently predicted experience would be on his side. Woods put nine shots between them that day and won by 12.
