Tiger Woods to be the world's first sportsman billionaire!

TIGER Woods is set to become the world's first billion-dollar sportsman in 2010, Splash news reported on Thursday, citing Golf Digest magazine.The record-setting golfer took home a staggering US$122.7 million in 2007, an increase of US$26million from 2006, according to the reports.

Woods enjoyed a boom year on the golf course in 2007, winning his 13th Major title, as well as a $10million bonus for coming out on top of the FedEx Cup competition. Woods' bank account was also bolstered by lucrative advertising deals.

The magazine estimates that since turning pro in 1996, Woods has US$769.4million in total earnings. In 1996, only nine golfers earned more than US$1million a year. But in 2007, 158 players, including 99 on the PGA Tour, topped that figure.