In the wake of an historic, eight-stroke victory in the British Open at St Andrews last month, Tiger Woods knew he had special reasons for celebration. But all the while, he kept reminding himself of another crucial assignment just down the road.

"It's going to be a long, difficult week - quite a test," he acknowledged here yesterday, while looking to the defence of the USPGA Championship. He refused, however, to discuss the greater prize of equalling Ben Hogan's unique achievement of three professional major triumphs in the same year.

"I'm going to give it everything, to try and put myself into a position to win the tournament and whatever happens, happens," he said. "But I'm not setting out to try and duplicate what Hogan did in 1953. That's strictly a by-product of winning the championship. In the same way, I didn't allow thoughts of the Grand Slam into my head when I was preparing for St Andrews."

Observing Woods in the build-up to this, the last "major" of the season, it was sometimes necessary to remind oneself that he was still only 24. And that this wasn't some elaborate exercise in self-promotion by an expert in public relations.

The fact is he gets better all the time, both on and off the golf course. Quizzed again by the world's golfing media, his composed, measured responses reflected a deep knowledge of the history of the game, an obvious respect for its great players and all the while, a beguiling sense of humour.

How did he feel about being drawn in the opening two rounds with the 1998 champion Vijay Singh and five-time winner Jack Nicklaus, for whom this may be a USPGA swansong. "I was surprised, pleasantly surprised," he said. "I expected Ernie (Els) or Davis (Love) to be the other member of our three-ball, along with Vijay."

He went on: "I consider it quite an honour. As a player and a fan, I hope this is not the last time for Jack. He has had a fabulous career but then I suspect that he doesn't really want to grind it out any more, especially if he feels he cannot win."

When did he start pursuing Nicklaus's record of 18 major championship wins? "Anyone who has played the game has been trying to do that," he replied. "He has set the bar very high and he has been the one who has won the biggest championships over and over again. To be able to complete the Slam three times over is pretty impressive.

"Have I tried to chase him? Well, I really don't believe it's realistic to think about that just yet. Not until I get into double digits, or maybe the teens. That is how you need to approach it because it is going to take time."

Temperatures were hitting 92 degrees yesterday when Woods played the front nine in practice, having played the full 18 holes on a secret visit last week. And his rivals will take no comfort from his assessment of the sweltering conditions.

"Luckily, I think it is cooler here than it is at home in Orlando," he said. "It was hot as could be there yesterday. So, being here is quite a bit cooler, not as humid."

Returning to Hogan, and the Hawk's much publicised quest of golfing perfection, Woods observed: "Obviously he hit a lot of golf balls. Then again, his swing required it. He changed his swing pretty dramatically from what it was earlier in his career to the one that won major championships.

"His swing was such that it required a lot of timing and anyway, he was a person who loved to practise. But I don't believe there is such a thing as perfection, because we are human and technically imperfect. So how can we ever achieve perfection?

"But I will tell you this: I have always been a big believer in professional excellence and that is what I try to achieve. I know I can never get to the point of hitting perfect shots every time. I just want to become the best I can be. That, for me, is professional excellence."

In a dramatic change of subject, Woods was then asked to comment on suggestions that he didn't like his caddie Steve Williams or his girlfriend Joanna to do interviews. And that close friends were subsequently censured by him if they spoke to the media.

"They (caddie, girlfriend and other friends) can do whatever they wish," he replied with a smile that was almost indulgent. "It is fine by me. I can, however, advise them against it, on the grounds that if you do it once, you are going to have to do it twice, a third time, a fourth time and so forth and so on. Then the media, as you all know, like to kind of hammer people."

All of this was said in a gentle, deliberate manner, as caring parents might advise their teenage offspring, rather than as a response to some rather sharp scribes who knew that Woods was making perfect sense, from personal experience.

With that level of composure, added to a stunning golf game, how can he fail this week? Yet the champion saw fit to conclude: "It is going to be a tough week. The golf course is set up very difficult. Hopefully I can manage my game well and strike the ball well enough so that if I make a few putts, I can keep the trophy."