-13 C Smith (Aus); -11 C Young (USA); -10 R McIlroy (NI), V Hovland (Nor); -9 D Johnson; -8 S Scheffler (USA), T Hatton (Eng) Selected: -7 T Gooch (USA), A Scott (Aus); -6 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), B Brown (Eng); -5 L Westwood (Eng), X Schauffle (USA); -4 J. Ram (Spa), S Lowry (Ir); -3 S Garcia (Spa), D Law (Sco), I Poulter (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng); EB MacIntyre (Sco); +1 C Morikawa (USA); +5 P Mickelson (USA); +9 T Woods (USA) Full ranking
Tiger Woods wiped away tears amid emotional scenes as he was cheered the length of the 18th hole on Friday for what he says is “feeling like the last time” he will play the Old Course in the Open Championship.
Never mind that the former world number one was about to miss the halfway mark of a remarkable 150th appearance at the world’s oldest major, the standing ovation was a recognition of his standing in the game.
Woods has won two of his three Claret Jugs at the venerable St Andrews venue and skipped the US Open last month to ensure he would be ready to play his favorite course this week.
The 46-year-old stopped short of saying it would be his last Open but added: “I found out what Jack is [Nicklaus] and Arnold [Palmer] felt in the past and felt like this. They understand what golf is all about and what it takes to be an Open champion.
“I was lucky enough to win here twice – it was emotional because I don’t know if I’ll be able to play when I come back here.”
The Open usually returns to St Andrews every five years, making the next one in 2027, although an official announcement has yet to be made.
Woods finished with a three-over-par 75 for a nine-over total, 22 shots behind Cameron Smith, who leads after two rounds.
The Australian world number six carded an eight-under-par 64 as he improved to 13-under.
Smith leads by two ahead of American Cameron Young in the rankings, which are ranked with the world’s best.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is 10 under with Norway’s Victor Hovland, while two-time major winner Dustin Johnson is 9 under, one ahead of world No 1 Scotty Scheffler and England’s Tyrell Hatton.
Tiger Woods acknowledged the praise from fans as he crossed the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway of the Old Course
But as the tournament goes on, few will forget Woods’ send-off.
Opening with a six-over-par 78 in the first round, Woods said he would “need a 66” to get through the weekend. This would be difficult if the 15-time major winner was in good health, but almost impossible given that he is still feeling the effects of the February 2021 car accident that almost cost him his right leg.
A smile flashed across his face after a birdie at the third. But any thoughts of that 66 were extinguished by bogeys on the fourth and sixth holes.
A run of nine pars followed before he attempted a flop shot over a greenside bunker at the 16th and only managed to drive his ball into the sand, leaving with a double-bogey six.
Regardless of his performance, Woods was cheered around the links by thousands of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the man who has had such a huge impact on the game over the past quarter century.
He played with Matt Fitzpatrick, who triumphed in Brooklyn in June to win his first major. And the Englishman and his playing partner Max Homa paused to allow Woods to cross the iconic Swilcan Bridge alone and acknowledge the praise.
“I got goosebumps,” Fitzpatrick said. “I just looked around and saw everyone standing up and gave him a standing ovation going down 18. Yeah, it was amazing. It’s something that will live with me forever.”
Woods had to pull himself together before playing his last chip over Valley of Sin, muttering “come on, come on” to himself. He pushed the ball to four feet but then missed the birdie putt.
Fitzpatrick also missed a shot but carded the 66 Woods craved to get to six under at the halfway point.
The score is low in calm conditions
Just as Woods finished around 15:00 BST, Rory McIlroy headed for the first, starting his second round at six under par.
He must have seen those who got out early score low in rainy conditions, which helped soften the greens.
Woods rather called the morning winter and the afternoon summer. Par for the Old Course.
And as the afternoon turned into evening, McIlroy fought at his best while the sun shone brightest. The momentum of birdies on the fifth and seventh holes was halted by bogeys on the eighth. But a run of three birdies at the 10th took him to 10 under, only to drop one back at the 15th.
But a superb 20-footer on the 17th saw him sign for a four-under 68. He was joined on 10 under by Hovland, who chipped in for an eagle two on the 15th in a 66.
“I’m digging holes in everything and I’m leaving thinking I could have been a couple better, but I’m in a great position for the weekend,” McIlroy said.
“It’s good to be in the mix.”
Former world number one Johnson, who was suspended from the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf Series, fired a 67 in the morning darkness to set the early pace at nine under.
The two-time major winner is one ahead of Scheffler and Hatton after shooting bogey-free rounds of 68 and 66, respectively.
Australia’s Adam Scott, who denied victory a decade ago at the 2012 Open, recorded the weakest round of the morning starters with a terrific 65 that lifted him into the seven-under group.
However, when the sun came out mid-afternoon and the wind died down, Smith took advantage with five birdies in his first eight holes. The world number six, who won the PGA Tour’s premier Players title at Sawgrass in March, then hit a 64-foot eagle on the 14th to move even further.
“I feel like I’ve been in this spot a lot the last few years and things haven’t gone my way yet,” said Smith, who has yet to win a major but has four top-10 finishes in the last five Masters.
“I just have to be really patient over the weekend. The golf course will become much harder and much faster. So just be patient and make good shots.”
Young, who led the night at eight under, was among those out in the later wave, and he managed to finish the last with a three-under 69 to finish at 11 under.
England’s Barclay Brown is the leading amateur after following up his opening 68 with a six-under 70, three ahead of Italy’s Filippo Celli.
The cut came at par, meaning defending champion Colin Morikawa, who finished one over 73, is among those going home early.
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