Golf: Nicklaus bids farewell, Tiger forges clear

ST ANDREWS - Emotional Jack Nicklaus closed the most illustrious career in golf history at the British Open on Friday while Tiger Woods simply moved on relentlessly towards his 10th major.

Woods took the tournament by the scruff of the neck with a flawless second-round 67 to move four shots clear of the field but it was Nicklaus who stole most of the plaudits at the Old Course.

Nicklaus, who holds a record 18 major titles, was intent on avoiding the halfway cut but despite perfect conditions, a round of level 72 left him two short of the cut, which fell at one-over-par 145.

"My biggest fear in coming here this week was that I didn't want to shoot a couple of 80-somethings," he told reporters.

"I was delighted to finish with a 72, the best round I've shot this year. I've played well and I've missed the cut by three shots. Then you know it's time to leave."

The 65-year-old, a competitor to the last, was given a deafening reception as he strode the 18th hole for the final time, stopping at the Swilcan Bridge to wave to galleries packed deep either side of the fairways.

He has won two of his three British Open titles here and describes the course as one of his favourite places in the world after five decades of professional competition and 38 Opens.

Nicklaus said beforehand the event would be his final major and he rubbed his eyes repeatedly as he approached the green, apparently close to tears.

A clever putt from off the green gave him the chance of a farewell birdie and with his wife Barbara looking on, he holed out the curling 12-footer to enormous cheers.

His playing partner Tom Watson, a long-time rival, was in tears as the pair embraced while a host of golfing greats gathered at greenside to offer their congratulations.

After completing his round, Woods paid his own tribute to Nicklaus.

"He's been the greatest champion in the history of our sport," he said. "No one has ever played the majors as well as him - he is just the greatest. It has been an honour to be around him."

FLAWLESS DISPLAY

Woods, 29, who is already halfway towards reaching the Nicklaus major record having clinched his ninth with victory in April's US Masters, tightened his stranglehold on the tournament with a flawless display of links golf.

The 2000 champion here ran in three birdie putts to build on his overnight 66 on his outward nine and then launched the shot of the day, a towering drive to reach the 380-yard 10th green with one blow from the tee.

It gave him the luxury of two putts for birdie and he collected another at the long 14th to move to 11 under. He then parred in from there for his 67.

His closest pursuer was Briton Colin Montgomerie, who fired a 66 to move to six under par with seven players a shot further adrift.

Nicklaus, the St Andrews champion in 1970 and 1978, made a valiant attempt to join Woods in the field for the final two rounds over the weekend.

He undid much of the damage an opening 75 had inflicted with birdies at the fifth and 10th but a wayward drive at the 12th cost him his second bogey of the day, leaving him with too much to do to make the cut.

His slim hopes were ended with a bogey at the notorious 17th Road Hole, when he missed a curling par putt from five feet, before his rally with that birdie at the last.

Earlier, Briton Tony Jacklin, another of the Open's most popular figures from decades past and the winner in 1969, bade farewell on his final appearance with a round of 76 to finish 11 over.

Holder Todd Hamilton also missed the cut, as 2003 champion Ben Curtis did last year, on his defence. The American finished four over par after double-bogeying the 13th.

NARROWLY MISSED

World number two Vijay Singh and third-ranked Ernie Els had early starting times and made the most of bright, almost windless conditions to collect a string of second-round birdies.

Singh, who shot 69 on Thursday, struggled with his putter but still picked up three birdies to equal his opening score for six under overall.

That matched South African Trevor Immelman, who fired a 70 to set the early second-round pace on 138, and US Ryder Cup man Brad Faxon.

The American posted a 66, having gone through final qualifying earlier in the week to book his place.

Els's sombre mood from Thursday brightened after he picked up five shots with a second-round 67 to follow his opening 74, leaving him three below par for the tournament.

Woods's Ryder Cup team mate Phil Mickelson likewise repaired the damage of an indifferent first round of 74 with a return of 67.

Sergio Garcia of Spain was in the hunt too, a couple of shots clear of Mickelson after a 69, the highlight of which came when drove the 357-yard last hole and narrowly missed a 20-foot eagle putt.

- REUTERS