Smith shines as emotional Woods bows out of Open

AUSTRALIA’S Cameron Smith stepped into the spotlight vacated by Tiger Woods to post a record halfway total in the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.

After an emotional Woods made an early exit from almost certainly his last competitive appearance on the Old Course, Smith carded a flawless 64 to reach 13 under par, beating the previous best – held by Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Louis Oosthuizen – by a shot.

Smith birdied his first three holes, picked up three more around the turn and then holed from 60 feet for an eagle on the 14th to raise the prospect of equalling the lowest round in men’s major history, Branden Grace’s 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

And although he was unable to make any further gains, the 28-year-old from Brisbane still enjoyed a two-shot lead over American Cameron Young, who added a 69 to his own opening 64.

Four-time major winner Rory Mcilroy is right in the mix, carding a 68 to stand at 10 under alongside Vikto Hovland.

“That was pretty cool out there,” Smith said. “A lot of things went right but to do it here was awesome.”

Smith started the year with a record 34-under-par winning total in the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii following a thrilling duel with then world number one Jon Rahm.

And two months later he claimed the biggest victory of his career to date in the Players Championship at Sawgrass. Jack Nicklaus is the only player to win the Players and Open in the same season, in 1978. That year the Open was held at St Andrews.

A winner on the Old Course in both 2000 and 2005, Woods could only add a 75 to his opening 78 to finish nine over par and miss the cut in the Open for just the fourth time in his career.

As promised, Woods did not pause for commemorative photographs as he crossed the Swilcan Bridge, but it was clearly an emotional moment for the 46-year-old, who removed his cap to acknowledge the applause and waved to the packed grandstands.

“It was very emotional for me,” Woods said. “I have been coming here since 1995 and I don’t know when the next one comes around, in what, 2030, if I will be physically able to play by then.

“I felt like it might be my last British Open at St Andrews and the ovation and warmth was an unbelievable feeling.”