Tiger Woods draws closer to record of Sam Snead

On Thursday, he will make his second start since winning the Masters in April to come in three wins of 18 major Jack Nicklaus titles. Woods came to the Memorial feeling "a lot better," he said, than two weeks ago at the P.G.A. Championship on Bethpage Black, where he did not advance in the weekend.

"I don't think he'll let that happen again," said Nicklaus, who added that he expected Woods to play well this week and to open in the United States in two weeks at Pebble Beach, the location of a 15-stroke Open victory for Woods in 2000.

Nicklaus, 79, accepts that his majors record is back on the threatened list. During the past few years, when Woods went through four back operations that had questioned him about the future in golf, Nicklaus warned people not to count Woods.

On Tuesday, Nicklaus, the host of the Memorial, said, "If he's physically healthy and it's his desire to win and he breaks it, you know, well done."

As for the other record, which Woods could match this weekend, Nicklaus cares much less.

"Oh, Sneads report, I don't mind that," Nicklaus said laughing. The majors were his benchmark, Nicklaus added. He ended with 73 wins and he said the Snead record was never that important to him.

"Maybe for him," said Nicklaus, referring to Woods. "I do not know."

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"To get close to find out, Sam Snead was pretty amazing," said Woods, adding, "Hopefully I have a few more."