ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Plenty of the game's greats will tell you: There's the greeting that showers down while strolling up the 18th fairway about to win a major, and there's the reception coming down the finish at St. Andrews.

People crowd the balconies of Rusack's Hotel to salute the new "Champion Golfer of the Year." Others stand on rooftops or lean out windows of the row houses that overlook the Old Course's 18th fairway.

It seems as though the entire town comes out. And in a way, it does.

The road that separates the Old Course from Rusack's and the residences turns into a pedestrian walkway during the Open. Fencing splits it lengthwise — for ticket-holders and general public. Yes, you can walk in off the street and catch a free peek at championship play.

Try that at a Super Bowl.

Birdie: Rory McIlroy. Not since 1946 has anyone finished among the British Open's top five with an 80 on his scorecard, a testament to how well the young Ulsterman played this week. Sunday's 4-under 68 was one shot off the day's best round.

Bogey: Phil Mickelson. Hard to believe a guy who has spent so much of his career as the world's No. 2 golfer owns just one top-10 finish at the British Open. Might have put himself in range after two early birdies, but a disinterested back nine required 41 strokes.

Birdie: Tom Lehman. The 1996 Open champion claimed this year's low senior honors, doing so with a flourish — an eagle at the par-4 18th after his drive stopped less than a foot away from a hole-in-one. "A perfect drive," said the 51-year-old pro, whose closing 70 left him tied for 14th.

Birdie: The Guardian's running blog. All week this stream-of-consciousness essay has offered gem after gem. On Graeme McDowell's attire: "The old-man cardigan look he was rocking at Pebble Beach." And Rickie Fowler's lengthy birdie putt at 17: "Not too dissimilar to the M6 between Lancaster and Penrith."