Gentleman Jack bids a fond farewell to Open

The present day great paying tribute to the old master as the galleries stood to attention, their cheers and loud applause echoing across a course Nicklaus has twice claimed as his own.

At 60, the face may be more wrinkled, the hair much thinner than of old.

But underneath the ageing exterior beats the heart of a man still as competitive as when he first entered the Open back in 1962.

So when the seven-foot putt which would have completed his second round with a birdie slipped agonisingly wide, his first reaction was one of frustration.

But, as he tapped in for a level-par second round of 72, the smile quickly returned as the packed stands surrounding the final hole stood to cheer Nicklaus one last time.

''Walking over the Swilken Bridge and up the 18th hole was very nice but not on a Friday afternoon,'' he said.

''The people have been terrific and let me know they appreciated the good years that I've had in Scotland. They welcomed me back and gave me a very nice farewell.''

Nicklaus has indicated that he will not return to the British Open again after this year's event.

However, the Royal & Ancient are contemplating bringing the championship back to St Andrews in 2005, which will be the last year Nicklaus would be offered entrance into the tournament as a past winner.

''I won't say no but I don't want to take up a spot unless I can be competitive.

''I have had some wonderful memories of the British Open for the last 20 years.

''I really was in contention virtually every year. It has been a great place to play golf and I have always enjoyed it.

''To come over to the British Open and experience the different courses and conditions, it is like going back in time.

''So many of the great golfers of the past have played on the same courses. There has always been a great sense of history and I've enjoyed that.

''In the States we have a few courses with a little bit of history but not the same as there is over here.

''I don't like to see people messing around with the courses. I don't like to see tradition changed.''

With his long-standing joint problems stopping him from walking round 18 holes without finishing in agony, Nicklaus must now decide whether to have surgery which would allow him to continue on the Seniors Tour or whether to quit the competitive scene altogether.

He will play in the USPGA Championship next month but after that he is undecided.

However, whether he takes to the course again or not, his 18 major championships and 70 tour titles is a record far in excess of any other player, although as he surveyed the scene yesterday, little did Woods know that Nicklaus was tipping the three-time major winner to provide the greatest challenge to his own achievements.

''I hope someone comes along and challenges the record and breaks it,'' said Nicklaus.

''The fact that Tiger is coming along doesn't bother me in the least.

''The game of golf needs a shot in the arm. Nothing is going to diminish what my record is. I have my record and it is there.

''You have done your best and that is all you can do.

''Some of the golf I have seen from Tiger Woods has been pretty phenomenal and he should get better.

''If he does, I will be the first one to say 'Well done'.''

Jack Nicklaus. Golfing legend, true gentleman.

l Lee Westwood birdied the last at St Andrews last night but did not give the impression of a man who felt he could win the Open.

With Woods blazing a trail at the top of the leader board, Westwood needs a phenomenal weekend to take part in the race for the title.

But the Englishman, ranked five in the world, is more concerned with trying to improve his own game than worrying about what Woods is up to.

''I haven't seen any of the tournament and I haven't been looking at the leaderboard, so I couldn't give an assessment of the state of the championship,'' he said.

''I have not been striking the ball very well and under the circumstances, four under par for two rounds is the best I could have hoped for."