Only two rounds of the 150th edition of The Open have been completed, but you get the feeling that we may have already witnessed the most memorable moment of the tournament.
Tiger Woods took to St Andrews this week hoping to give a good account of himself, although it is well known at this point that his physical peak is well behind him. Unfortunately, he was not able to provide the watching public with many moments of magic. He would fail to make the cut after finishing +9 for his two rounds.
While his level of play was not the highest, there was one moment that will live long in the memory.
As Woods made his way down the 18th fairway, he received a remarkable ovation from the galleries as he completed what was possibly his final ever round at St Andrews.
Spine-tingling scenes as Tiger Woods soaks in the appreciation from the fans at the18th 👏🥺 pic.twitter.com/guLLUGD1Im
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) July 15, 2022
Incredible scenes.
It was an emotional moment for the 46-year old, who also received a tip of the cap from Rory McIlroy as he made his way down the adjacent first fairway.
Yep he did. Here you go: pic.twitter.com/A8TQZGEbfM
— Tom Fairbrother 🏃🏼 (@fairboyruns) July 15, 2022
As it turns out, it may have been that gesture that drew the emotional reaction from the 14-time major winner.
Tiger Woods sums up Rory McIlroy gesture at The Open
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are close friends, regularly meeting up with each other outside of competition during their time living in Florida. Ahead of The Open, the pair got in a few practice rounds around Ireland in the aftermath of last week's JP McManus Pro-Am.
With Woods' career now winding down, many would view the Holywood native as the successor to his throne in terms of being the biggest draw in golf. That made this moment all the more significant.
Speaking to the media afterwards, the American admitted that it wasn't the noise of the crowd that first drew a few tears, but instead when he crossed paths with McIlroy.
No, not then. As I walked further along the fairway, I saw Rory right there. He gave me the tip of the cap.
It was a pretty cool, the nods I was getting from guys as they were going out and I was coming in, just the respect, that was pretty neat. And from a players' fraternity level, it's neat to see that and feel that.
Then as I got into the shot, or closer to the green and more into the hole, the ovation got louder and you could feel the warmth and you could feel the people from both sides. Felt like the whole tournament was right there.
They all had appreciated what I've done here for the years I've played, I've won two championships here, my British Open success and all my times I've enjoyed here in Scotland and playing, I felt like it just came to a head right there as I was walking to my golf ball.
Waves crashing, wind blowing off the water, two fellas talking about ball flight. Pretty surreal scene from Rory and Tiger's buddies trip to Ballybunion today (via aidohanrahan IG) pic.twitter.com/xz7WxyMWsH
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) July 7, 2022
He confirmed yesterday that while he plans to play in future editions of The Open, the nature of the scheduling of the event means that this could well be the last time that he tees it up in the tournament at St Andrews.
All golf fans will be hoping that this will not be the case, Rory McIlroy chief amongst them. Speaking after he carded a -4 round of 62 yesterday to put himself right into contention, he admitted that while this was a nice moment, he wants to see Tiger Woods play at the famous Scottish venue again in the future.
It would have been a cool moment if he was 8-under par instead of 8-over, whatever he was. A little bit.
I just hope, everyone hopes, it's not the end of his Old Course career. I think he deserves, we deserve him, to have another crack at it.
Hopefully The Open is back here in four or five years' time and he does get another crack at it because with how good he's been throughout his career and how good he's been at The Old Course, I think that's not the way about him he's got better in him.
That is a conversation for another day.
For now, McIlroy will be concentrating on ending his own major hoodoo in the days ahead.
SEE ALSO: Brilliant Exchange Between Shane Lowry And Justin Thomas At The 18th
