TURBERRY:This British Open was supposed to be all about whether Tiger Woods could claim his 15th major title.

Instead the World No 1 is flying home to Florida and, after a day of extraordinary drama at Turnberry, the issue is whether Tom Watson can win a sixth Open title at the age of 59. As Woods was struggling for survival, Watson produced a consumate display of gutsy golf to

follow up his opening 65 with a second round 70 that left him tied for the halfway lead with Steve Marino.

What Woods would have given for a slice of Watson’s composure in adversity. Having got himself to even par for the tournament after seven holes, Woods fell apart around the turn with double bogeys on the 10th and 13th effectively sealing his fate.

Only once since he turned professional has Woods missed the cut in a major tournament. That was at the 2006 US Open in the aftermath of his father Earl’s death and he admitted he simply had not been good enough here to make the weekend.