Tiger Woods wiped away tears amid emotional scenes as he was cheered the full length of the 18th hole on Friday on what he says "feels like his last time" playing the Old Course in an Open Championship.
No matter that the former world number one was about to miss the halfway cut at the landmark 150th staging of the world's oldest major, this was recognition of his standing in the game.
Woods has won two of his three Claret Jugs at the revered St Andrews venue and skipped last month's US Open to ensure he would be fit to play his favourite course this week.
The 46-year-old did not say it would be his final Open Championship, but added: "I came to understand what Jack [Nicklaus] and Arnold [Palmer] felt in the past and I felt that way. They understand what golf is all about and what it takes to be an Open champion.
"I have been lucky enough to win here twice - it felt emotional because I don't know whether I will be able to play when it comes back here."
Tiger Woods acknowledged the adulation of the fans as he crossed the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway at the Old CourseThe Open usually returns to St Andrews every five years, which would make the next one in 2027, although an official announcement is yet to be made.
An opening six-over-par 78 in round one left Woods saying he would "need a 66" to make the weekend. That would have been a tall order were the 15-time major winner in good health, but nigh-on impossible given he is still feeling the after-effects of the car crash in February 2021 that almost cost him his right leg.
A smile flashed across his face after a birdie on the third. But all thoughts of that 66 were extinguished by bogeys on the fourth and sixth holes.
A run of nine pars followed before he tried a flop shot over a greenside bunker on the 16th and only succeeded in sticking his ball in the sand, walking off with a double-bogey six.
Regardless of his performance, Woods was cheered round the links by thousands of fans eager for a glimpse of the man who has had such a huge impact on the game over the past quarter of a century.
He was playing with Matt Fitzpatrick, who triumphed at Brookline in June to win his first major. And the Englishman and playing partner Max Homa paused to let Woods cross the iconic Swilcan Bridge alone and acknowledge the adulation.
He had to compose himself before playing his final chip, muttering "come on, come on" to himself. He nudged the ball to within four feet but then missed the birdie putt to close with a one-over 73 and eight-over total
Fitzpatrick also missed a birdie putt but he signed for the 66 that Woods had craved, to reach six under at halfway.
Just as Woods was finishing up at 15:14 BST, Rory McIlroy was heading down the first, starting his second round on six under par, three behind clubhouse leader Dustin Johnson.
Former world number one Johnson, who has been suspended by the PGA Tour for joining the LIV Golf Series, shot a five-under-par 67 to reach nine under.
The two-time major winner leads by one from current number one Scottie Scheffler and England's Tyrrell Hatton, who shot a bogey-free 66.
Australia's Adam Scott, who threw away victory a decade ago at the 2012 Open, carded the lowest round of the morning starters with a bogey-free 65 lifting him into a group on seven under.
Unheralded American Cameron Young, who led overnight on eight under, was among those out in the later wave, along with Cameron Smith, who started the day on five under.
