Associated Press

St Andrews, July 16:

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. First came the farewell of Jack Nicklaus, the greatest champion the game has known, ending his competitive career 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 US 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.

Thirty minutes later, Woods saved par from the Valley of Sin to polish off a bogey-free round of 5-under 67 that gave him his largest 36-hole lead at a major since his magical run in 2000.

Nicklaus and Woods finally met in the interview room — fittingly, as the Golden Bear was leaving. “Nice playing,” Nicklaus told him. “Thank you, sir,” Woods replied. “You know, that’s my best round of the year!” Nicklaus said. “And I still didn’t make the cut.” But he sure got an emotional sendoff on a mostly sunny, crisp afternoon at St Andrews.

Nicklaus shot an even-par 72 finishing at 147 and missed the cut by two shots. 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 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 seven players at 6-under 138 included Vijay Singh, who missed several birdie chances inside 10 feet and felt his 69 was about as poor as he could have done. He certainly isn’t about to concede the claret jug to Woods. Retief Goosen blew a three-shot lead in the final round by shooting 81. Others at 138 were Brad Faxon, a throwback who came to Scotland for local qualifying and shot 66; and Jose Maria Olazabal, keeping his chances alive with an eagle through the Valley of Sin on the final hole to salvage a 70. Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson tried to get back into the mix, each with a 67 that got them to 3-under 141.