Putting Might Finish Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus’ last major started with a birdie, ended with a par and in between featured three consecutive three-putts on the back side that didn’t help him score any better than a three-over 75.

“I played a lot of decent shots,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed in a 75, obviously.”

When he walked up to the 18th green of the Old Course, trailed by a phalanx of cameramen, Nicklaus removed his cap and waved to the crowd in the grandstands as well as those who stuck their heads out the windows of the gray stone buildings that hug the fairways.

He did the same thing after he tapped in his putt, stopping to acknowledge the cheers with a wave before disappearing under the giant grandstand to sign his scorecard.

Nicklaus three-putted at the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.

“That sort of killed my round,” he said.

What he needs to do today to make the cut is shoot about four or five under, said Nicklaus, who didn’t want to think too far ahead about playing what might be the final round of his career and crossing the Swilcan Bridge for the last time at the Open Championship.

“I’m here to play golf first,” he said. “ ... I’ll go out and see if I can shoot a good round tomorrow. I’d like to walk across that bridge on Sunday, not on Friday, so that’s really my goal.”

Tom Watson, who played with Nicklaus and matched his 75, soaked up the response of the gallery.

Said Watson: “The warmth and love the crowds over here in Scotland gave him was a wonderful example of how much they respect the man. I concur with that.”

Standing in a long line virtually unnoticed at the Royal Bank of Scotland on the course to buy some of the 5-pound notes with Nicklaus’ picture on them was reigning British Open champion Todd Hamilton.

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Mark Calcavecchia’s day began at 2:09 a.m. local time so he could make his 6:30 a.m. tee time -- the first group of the day.

“It was pretty quiet,” he said. “That was pretty early to spectate. I don’t think you can even get a beer that early, can you? You certainly can’t spectate without a beer.”

With no one in front of them, Calcavecchia, Simon Dyson and Rory Sabbatini finished in 3 hours 45 minutes. Calcavecchia, like Dyson, had a two-under 70, but Calcavecchia’s round was an entertaining one, with six birdies and four bogeys.

“The good news was I made six birdies,” said Calcavecchia, the 1989 champion at Royal Troon. “I’ll look on the bright side and think about those.”

Another early starter was Lee Westwood, who was in the fifth group. Westwood, who was highly regarded coming in, didn’t play like it and shot a 76. He didn’t start quickly -- a double bogey at the first hole, where he hit his second shot into the creek, the same thing he did on his first hole last year.

“It’s becoming a trend,” Westwood said.

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Sandy Lyle had an adventure traveling the Road Hole, the par-four 17th. He made triple bogey after he hit his tee shot to the right, his second shot out of bounds, his fourth onto the 18th tee, chipped to within three feet and missed the putt.

“That was a quick seven,” the 1985 Open champion said.

But he birdied the 18th, closed with a 74 and considered himself fortunate.

“You need to keep your wits about you at all times,” he said.