Bobby Jones on his way to The Open title at St Andrews in 1927

"I had played well here in '64, got the wrong side of the weather and finished second to Tony Lema.

"To come back and win, I think that was something very special. And I suppose there are a couple of places in the game of golf you want to win. I think this is probably the most special place of all to win a golf tournament," he said.

In his last British Open appearance at Royal Lytham in 1996, the then 56-year-old Nicklaus was amazingly in contention well into the third round, although he faded badly over the rest of Saturday and Sunday.

I think this is probably the most special place of all to win a golf tournament

Jack Nicklaus

At St Andrews, it would be a miracle if he were once again to be running with the younger pack.

His form, he said with a resigned shrug, has been "terrible".

"What I had hoped to do at the start of this year was to play well enough to be competitive, and when you are competitive you can have some fun.

"I've struggled every tournament I've played in. I've played very poorly in all four of the senior majors.

"The first two rounds at Augusta is the only place where I had a little bit of fun: that was about it," he said.

Love affair

But form apart, Nicklaus had his mind set on one last fling around the Old Course at The Open and nothing he said would have got in the way.

"I had a love affair with St Andrews from the first time I saw it. I've always loved the golf course," he said.

Five years ago, it was Arnold Palmer's emotional farewell to the golfing gods as players lined up outside the Royal and Ancient clubhouse on Friday evening to applaud him as he strode over the old Swilken Burn bridge on his way up the 18th hole for the last time.

On Friday, if he fails to make the cut, and on Sunday if he passes it, St Andrews will honour the man considered to be the greatest golfer ever, and Nicklaus will follow his old rival into the history books.