Nicklaus - will Tiger beat his record? (Getty Images)

Tiger Woods has reached the halfway point in his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus's record 18 majors - and has done it quicker than the 'Golden Bear'.

Nicklaus's ninth major came at the 1971 US PGA, his 40th major as a professional. Woods was playing his 33rd at Augusta this weekend.

Nicklaus was 31 years old at the time of his ninth major, while Woods is not 30 until the end of December.

This is how they compare (figures in brackets indicate the number of majors played as a professional):

JACK NICKLAUS

1 - 1962 US Open (2)

2 - 1963 Masters (5)

3 - 1963 US PGA (8)

4 - 1965 Masters (13)

5 - 1966 Masters (17)

6 - 1966 Open (19)

7 - 1967 US Open (22)

8 - 1970 Open (35)

9 - 1971 US PGA (40)

10 - 1972 Masters (41)

11 - 1972 US Open (42)

12 - 1973 US PGA (48)

13 - 1975 Masters (53)

14 - 1975 US PGA (56)

15 - 1978 Open (67)

16 - 1980 US Open (74)

17 - 1980 US PGA (76)

18 - 1986 Masters (97)

TIGER WOODS

1 - 1997 Masters (1)

2 - 1999 US PGA (12)

3 - 2000 US Open (14)

4 - 2000 Open (15)

5 - 2000 US PGA (16)

6 - 2001 Masters (17)

7 - 2002 Masters (21)

8 - 2002 US Open (22)

9 - 2005 Masters (33)