NEWS: The Latest from the Links

The Open 2005: Round Two

Jack Nicklaus completed his personal odyssey to the pinnacle of the game today when he completed his final competitive round on the Old Course with a birdie at the last hole.

Nicklaus, winner of 18 professional major titles, is the greatest player in the history of golf and it was fitting that his swan song should be on the Old Course, where he was twice a winner and whose reputation he has extolled and enhanced during his long career.

Given a standing ovation by the crowds gathered at every hole, Nicklaus was feted at the Home of Golf as no man has been before.

Commenting on his three at the last hole, named Tom Morris in honour of the great pioneer of championship golf, Nicklaus said he set the ball off on a six-inch break but thought he’d missed it: ‘the hole must have moved!’ he said.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods extended his lead to four strokes after a second round 67. Woods scored five birdies with no dropped shots. He has birdied ten different holes already this week and today missed a short putt to add the Road Hole to his tally. Woods is not likely to imagine that regaining the most coveted title in golf will be a stroll by the seaside: ‘All I know is that I have business to do tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I have to shoot another quality round out there.’

Woods will be joined in the final two-ball by Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, who shot a 66 to go to 7 under par. Montgomerie has shot 62 on the Old Course during the Dunhill Links Championship and another round of that type will be needed to mount a challenge to the world number one.

Further back, on 6 under, are seven players including Vijay Singh who returned a second successive 69.

The cut mark was one over par, a shot higher than in 2000. The mark was set after Euan Walters of Australia bogeyed the 18 th when a birdie would have brought the cut to even par.

South Africa ’s David Frost shot the championship’s best score so far of 65. Frost went around the Old Course in 64 back in the 1991 Dunhill, but with the course having been lengthened for this year’s Open he is now the course record holder.

St Andrews Links Trophy stalwarts Eric Ramsay, Lloyd Saltman, Matthew Richardson and Edoardo Molinari have all qualified for the weekend.