Tiger Woods sees his hopes of Open glory disappear into Swilcan Burn

The Open Championship’s official slogan for this year – ‘everything has led to this’ – is a bit too ‘live, laugh, love’ to have its intended effect of emphasising both the history of St Andrews and a misty-eyed sense of destiny for those out on the Old Course. But as Tiger Woods stood on the 8th tee with those exact words emblazoned on the grandstand behind him, reeling from a double bogey on the 7th, it did feel oddly fitting.

Nobody here balances history and destiny quite like Tiger. What has been before, and what could come again. Three times an Open champion (twice at St Andrews), Woods considers this his “favourite course” and it is the place where the finest golfer of his generation – possibly of all time – played his finest ever tournament, to win in 2000 by eight shots.

But the future, both immediate and long term, remains unclear. Devoid of competitive golf, Woods’ touch deserted him. He signed for a six-over-par 78.

Nobody had really expected Woods to win another Claret Jug this week. The fact that he has made it here at all is reason enough to celebrate, less than 18 months after a car crash left his right leg with multiple open fractures, as well as ankle trauma and tissue damage.

He was told by doctors he would never again play competitive golf again. And yet, here we are.

Physically at least, he seems to be in much better shape. Having withdrawn mid-tournament from both the Masters and the PGA Championship earlier this year, Woods arrived at St Andrews on Saturday re-energised, sticking the boot into LIV during his press conferences and heading out for practice rounds with a new-found ferocity.

By midday on Tuesday, he had walked 58 holes on the Old Course, and spoke about being in contention come Sunday.