World number one Tiger Woods' determination to go it alone and do things his way means he has never once asked for advice from the man he is likely to usurp as the sport's most successful golfer.

Woods, when seemingly at the peak of his game a few years ago went through months of turmoil after remodelling his swing to make it better, is four short of Jack Nicklaus' record haul of 18 major championship wins.

Most other golfers of his generation would have sought out the 69-year-old Nicklaus for his opinion on some aspect of the game - but not Woods.

"Tiger has never asked me one question about golf," said Nicklaus.

"He's a good kid but he pretty much does things his own way. That's okay because I pretty much did my own thing."

The world number one did, however, pay attention when Nicklaus offered some advice on the problem with his left knee, which was operated on after he won the US Open last year - his last major victory.

Having missed the final two majors of that year Woods returned to the tour in 2009 but was still feeling the after-effects of the injury.

"Tiger's problem is not his leg but what causes [the stress on] his leg," said Nicklaus, who is in the UK as his role as RBS ambassador working with the First Tee programme, which aims to proved life skills experience to local youths through golf.

"He gets off his right hip really quickly and that places so much stress on his knee.

"I talked to Tiger about it and recommended a physiotherapist - so I got that one off my chest!

"I played in the Memorial Tournament shoot-out this year and he was swinging beautifully.

"He said to me 'I didn't call your guy but I took your advice and knew what I had to do'."