Tiger Woods’ swing at St Andrews ‘looks as good as ever’, says Justin Thomas

• Thomas talks up friend's Open chances after practice round
• But Nick Faldo says Woods faces big physical challenge

As Justin Thomas insisted it would be no shock to see Tiger Woods in contention at the Open Championship, the three-time winner Nick Faldo wrote off the prospect of a 16th major success for the 46-year-old Woods at St Andrews. Faldo even floated the idea of this Open bringing the curtain down on the American's celebrated career.

Woods and Thomas played a five-hour practice round at the Old Course on Sunday, during which the former walked with a heavy limp. Woods, who skipped last month's US Open, is still showing the effects of a serious car crash in February last year. He did, however, sign off in fine fashion; Woods drove the green at the par-four 18th before watching a 20ft eagle putt hang on the lip of the hole.