Tiger Woods takes his cap off and waves to the crowd as he walks over the Swilken Bridge, most likely for the last time here in The Open.

It certainly looks like a farewell walk of some sort.

What a time to be stood around the first and the last.

Crowd favourite Rory McIlroy and defending champion Collin Morikawa are waiting to tee off, while the great Tiger Woods approaches the 18th green for what *could* be the final time.

Back on the opening tee, Morikawa kicks off the latest scene for this ensemble cast.

Morikawa, looking to edge away from the cut line, finds the fairway with McIlroy and Xander Schauffele following his line.

Christopher Clarey
New York Times reporter on BBC radio

It helps to be a phenom which is what Tiger was. That kind of magnetism you can't plan for it - it just happens. When the sport loses that you can't just plug someone else back in to that spot.

I think that is a real gift to the sport - but how long he wants to keep giving that to the sport when he can't contend? I don't know how long he can keep doing that.

If you want to know a little more about Ireland's David Carey, I'll direct you to the post at 14:45.

He's picked up yet another birdie and now finds himself at five-under, and with the par-five 14th coming up.

Ranked 906th in the world, it's a remarkable showing on his Open debut.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Tiger's overall score is irrelevant. It is about a moment. And if this pops in the crowd will say 'I was there'

Not enough and maybe he's going to save it for the 18th.

Jon Rahm is struggling again. Having bogeyed the 15th, the Spaniard overcooks his second into the 16th and can't fly his pitch anywhere near far enough.

It's around 25 feet up the slope and he makes it! What a putt. That's a huge moment for the world number three after that slip-up on the last.

Now it's Spieth's turn. He has around 12 feet...and he makes it too!

Dropped shot for Harold Varner III, though. His first of the day.

Woods saves his par on 17, and now every single person around St Andrews is willing him to make a birdie up the last.

This is going to be a highly emotional walk up the 18th for Tiger Woods, as it could be his last at an Open here...

And it's another birdie for Theegala who seems determined to make the most of his late entry into The Open by launching a challenge for the Claret Jug.

Strong starts at majors have not been associated with Rory McIlroy over recent years.

Strong finishes, usually when he already seems well out of contention, have.

If McIlroy can marry the two together then it spells danger for the rest of the field.

Bizarrely, he is yet to shoot in the 70s during an Open at St Andrews, having carded 63, 80, 69 and 68 in 2010, then starting yesterday with a six-under 66.

There was a mitigating factor for that tournament-ruining 80, you may remember, with high winds causing havoc.

What will today have in store? Word of warning: the gusts are starting to pick up on the east coast...

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

It’s been a rough old day for Tiger Woods, he could probably have done without a relatively short turnaround after what was a mammoth opening round. The sprightlier Matt Fitzpatrick has been less bothered…

Fittingly, St Andrews is looking its spectacular best in the afternoon sunshine for what could be Woods’ final Open round here, and the crowd are at their most enthusiastic too.

Patrick Cantlay rolls another birdie in and he's absolutely flying now as he's six under for the day with not one bogey on his card.

Oh dear, Tiger Woods gets in big trouble as he goes from rough to bunker before eventually carding a six on the par-four 16th.

This is not how we want Tiger to finish off this round, and the crowd give him an almighty roar as he lashes his tee shot on 17 over the corner of the hotel.

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, has quietly added successive birdies and is now just three off the lead. Maybe playing among the fever-pitch atmosphere of a Tiger Woods group has helped him.

Rory McIlroy was in total control of his game yesterday, with St Andrews rarely biting back.

The Northern Irishman has been in contention for all three majors so far this year and he's now solved his slow-starting problem - could this finally be major title number five?

To warm you up for his second round, watch how he started his latest bid for that elusive fifth major...

Image source, Getty Images

Playing "boring" golf and dealing with "fiddly" conditions. Those are the keys to success for Rory McIlroy this weekend.

So far, so good.

The pre-tournament favourite shot a composed 66 yesterday, setting himself up for a serious tilt at winning a fifth major crown.

Eight years after his last triumph - the 2014 Open at Hoylake - yesterday was his best start to the tournament since.

"It's the fiddliest Open that I've played. It's the only way I can really describe it," said McIlroy.

"As the tournament progresses, you're going to get some funny bounces and it's going to test your patience at times.

"Fiddly hasn't really been my forte over the years, but I'm hopefully going to make it my forte this week."

Steady progress from Ian Poulter, who's shrugged off another round of boos on the first tee to improve to five-under.

Could the Ryder Cup stalwart be ready for another bid to secure that elusive maiden major title?

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

You know where Tiger is on the course by the swarm of fans threading their way down the ropes to follow him, in the distance they look like a conga line of ants.

That procession is about to bottle neck as he reaches the closing holes, with the 17th now packed and spectators now jostling for a prime spot.

If you were following our live text closely yesterday, you'll perhaps remember the name 'David Carey' popping up once or twice.

The 26-year-old Irishman is making his Open debut this week and is certainly not just making up the numbers.

Carey, who won the 36-hole qualifying competition at Fairmont St Andrews, once shot a 57 on his way to winning on the Alps Tour.

He's not going to go that low today, but he's picked up four birdies in his last six to move up to four-under, jumping up 34 places.

An impressive move.

Image source, Getty Images

Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Home is calling here at the home of golf, for Tiger Woods.

We've just seen our first glimpse of that famous McIlroy stride as Rors heads away from the range.

The Northern Irishman looks very relaxed.

He stops to have a quick word with a couple of youngsters, rubbing one on the head and smiling broadly as he continues with his day.

Let's see if he's still smiling in five hours or so...

-9 Dustin Johnson (67)

-8 Scottie Scheffler (68)

-8 Tyrrell Hatton (66)

-8 Patrick Cantlay (14)

-8 Cameron Smith (5)

-8 Cameron Young (4)

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