ROYAL LYTHAM DIARY:A British Open miscellany

ARGENTINA AND Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez (left) played an unlikely role yesterday when he carried compatriot Andrés Romero's bag in the final round.

Tevez (28) was among the crowds at Lytham earlier in the week but he was a lot closer to the action in the final round as he caddied for Romero wearing a royal blue jacket and cap.

However, Tevez was not able to inspire his friend, who carded a dismal 82 to finish on 18 over. "I enjoyed the round," Tevez told reporters. "The course is beautiful. The chance to walk along the course and to be around these great players is a pleasure and something unforgettable."

Patience: McIlroy refuses to get wound up and is happy to play waiting game

NOT THE type to throw the toys out of the cot, Rory McIlroy – who bowed out with a closing 73 for 288, which left him languishing in tied-60th position – is intent on playing a game of patience.

“I think the thing for me is to stay patient. If it doesn happen for me over the next couple of weeks (in the Bridgestone and US PGA), no big deal. It’s a 20-year career, so I’m not going to get too wound up. I’ve got to keep working away, plugging away. I’ve got to keep working hard on the right things and eventually it will come around,” said McIlroy.

With coach Michael Bannon by his side, McIlroy had worked late on the range on Friday night. “A really good session, I think we found something . . . I’ve got something to work on for the next few weeks.”

Although McIlroy has failed to feature at the business end of the British Open for the past two years, following up his tied-25th at Sandwich with a tied-60th here, he discounted the theory it is the Major he’d find toughest to win.

“A couple of years ago, I would (have said) the US Open, the way they set it up. I just got a US Open where it was a bit softer and was able to be a bit more aggressive.

“I dont think theres any Major thats harder to win than another. You’ve just got to beat the other guys that are playing. I dont think any Major is tougher for me than the other. I treat them all equally and just try and do the best I can.”

India’s Anirban Lahiri marked his Open debut with the first hole in one of the week on Saturday at the 150-yard ninth.

Game breaker: Mishit five iron ends Tiger's hopes

ONE SHOT, a mishit five-iron approach into the sixth hole effectively ended any chance Tiger Woods had of doing something he has never managed in his career – win a Major when trailing going into the final round.

The ball ended up in the front left bunker and what happened next was calamitous for Woods, who took two shots to escape and ran up a triple-bogey seven that put the brakes on any intended chase.

Woods's first shot out of the bunker hit the face and almost hit him on the rebound. It didn't, which would have led to a one-stroke penalty, but his next attempt – played bent over, with both legs out of the trap (see main photograph above) – hit the wall of the bunker and scuttled onto the green from where he three-putted.

Game over!

"The game plan was to fire it into the bank, have it ricochet to the right and then have an angle to come back at it. Unfortunately it ricocheted to the left and almost hit me," said a philosophical Woods.

Graeme McDowell also came to grief in that bunker.