US Masters champion Tiger Woods, the first black golfer to win a major title, continues to receive death threats, saying his success has offended some. "Unfortunately I have had my share of threats since I was 16," Woods said. "That's just the way life is when you're playing a sport that traditionally hasn't been a minority sport.

"People are taking offence to the things I'm doing and saying and trying to accomplish in golf. That's just the way it is."

Woods, who won a US PGA Tour record four titles and more than $2 million this season, was speaking at a promotion for a Skins Game at La Quinta, California later this month.

Fellow Americans Fred Couples, Tom Lehman and Mark O'Meara will join Woods at the Skins Game, where Woods said the security risk is reduced because so many fewer people are on hand compared to a tour event.

Woods would not say how many death threats he has received but he does have special security at every event where he plays.

Fellow professional Davis Love III said Woods' star status puts him in a class with Michael Jordan as a global star who has transcended his sport.

"Tiger is in the same category as Michael," Love said. "Michael can't go to the mall or go to a sporting goods store to look at a new fishing lure.

"Tiger is going to be that popular because of his victory in the Masters. There's not much he can do about it. He is in a category where he can't live as a normal person."

Maenwhile, Lehman, Couples and Phil Mickelson combined to give the PGA Tour a 1 1/2-point win over the LPGA Tour at the Three-Tour Challenge in Las Vegas. The trio finished the unique team format with 59 points to edge the LPGA line-up of Australia's Karrie Webb, Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and American Nancy Lopez.

The Senior PGA Tour line-up of Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and Larry Nelson were third with 45 1/2 points.