Fitting finale as Bear hugs the limelight

TEARS surely stung his eyes but Jack Nicklaus wouldn’t let them come.

Instead, it was his playing partner and old adversary Tom Watson and the thousands who thronged the towering grandstands and pathways surrounding the 18th hole who broke down as the Golden Bear finally bade farewell to the Open Championship.

The fact that Tiger Woods was turning the tournament into a procession was hardly noticed as Nicklaus took centre stage, managing to play the kind of golf shots that put one in mind of his hey-day.