The pair, who earned $600,000 each, beat Spain's Sergio Garcia and Mexico's Lee Trevino 3 and 2 in the match up between two generations of stars.

Woods got off to a flier, making birdies at the first three holes and went on to make six more in the next 13.

Nicklaus last played with Woods two years ago in the PGA Championship, where Woods went on to win in a play-off for his third of four consecutive majors.

"I know now that I have no business playing on the regular tour," Nicklaus said.

"If you see the way Tiger and Sergio play, there's no such thing as a par five anymore. The course is four shots longer for us."

And Woods' performance in this exhibition match earned high praise from Nicklaus.

He told Woods: "I had a great partner. I might have contributed a birdie or two, but you were great."

After the world number one's nightmarish third round at the Open, when he shot a round of 10 over par, Woods was relieved to be in a more familiar vein of form.

Woods joked, "I broke 80, didn't I?" - something he was not able to say at Muirfield after the wind and rain ended his hopes of the calendar Grand Slam.