1.   On a sunny Friday afternoon, the Open bid farewell to Nicklaus, to date the greatest golfer who has ever lived.

2.   Also scheduled on the green is Tiger Woods, a multiethnic prodigy in an overwhelmingly white sport who has the potential to become the greatest golfer who ever lived.

3.   Contrary to popular opinion, Phil Mickelson is not the greatest golfer never to win a major.

4.   Entrusted with retaining the Holy Grail, the captain of the European team is none other than Seve Ballesteros, the greatest golfer in the history of Spain.

5.   He is arguably the most famous athlete on the planet, with a chance to go down as the greatest golfer in history.

6.   He wants to be remembered as the greatest golfer ever.

7.   He was raised to be the greatest golfer of all-time and he will fulfill his promise.

8.   If you want to see the greatest golfer ever making an incredible shot in a major championship, he did it Thursday afternoon live.

9.   In other words, the greatest golfer in history won less than one out of every five times he teed up in majors.