Woods was in a class of his own at Medinah this week

Woods, who finished five shots clear of the field at Medinah, has made passing Nicklaus' mark his career target.

Woods said: "It's still a long way away. It's not something I could get next year. It took Jack over 20 years to get his - 18 is a pretty big number.

"It's going to take a career, and I've just got to keep plugging along."

Interview: World number one Tiger Woods

Woods' latest victory moved him clear of Walter Hagen into second place in golf's all-time list, and he said it was "a dream come true" to be ahead of so many of the sport's greatest players.

The 30-year-old American believes he is playing better now than when he won his "Tiger slam" in 2000-1 - the only time in the modern open era when a player has held all four major titles at once.

I just had one of those magical days on the greens - I felt I could make it from anywhere Tiger Woods

"I feel like I'm controlling my ball pretty good right now, and more importantly I have a better understanding of how to get more out of my round and how to handle my emotions better," he said.

"I feel like mentally I'm so much better prepared now to handle situations than I was then.

"Physically, I feel like I'm hitting the ball extremely well. I have a better understanding of my mechanics and my putting stroke now.

"I feel like things are pretty darn good right now."

Woods said his putting form at Medinah had been vital to stretching away on the final day from England's Luke Donald, who had started Sunday level with him.

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"It was a special day out there," Woods said.

"I just had one of those magical days on the greens - I felt I could make it from anywhere.

"It's not too often you get days like that and I happened to have it on the final day of a major championship. It was a really neat feeling."

But he said his decision to use a five wood on some of the course's more difficult holes was the key to his victory, in much the same way his two iron had been instrumental in his win at the Open at Hoylake in July.