Tiger Woods flies into Thai politics

The half-Thai Woods, accompanied by five bodyguards, arrived at Bangkok's Don Muang airport aboard his private jet and was quickly whisked away to the posh Shangri-la Hotel, airport officials said.

The 24-year-old Woods, a U.S. citizen whose mother is a Thai national, was scheduled to receive an honourary doctorate of philosophy in "sports science" from Kasetsart University on Tuesday afternoon.

He will participate in the 1.3 million dollar Johnnie Walker Classic tournament at the Alpine Golf and Sports Club that starts on Thursday. The golf course was once owned by Thai billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, a leading contender to become Thailand's next prime minister after the January 6 general election.

Thaksin, however, may have trouble making political mileage off Tiger's visit since his Alpine Club was not listed among his personal assets presented to Thailand's anti-corruption authorities prior to seeking office, and therefore would make it difficult for the politician to act as host of the event, said The Nation newspaper.

The golf course now lists Thaksin's servants among its main shareholders. Thaksin, who made a fortune in Thailand's fledgling telecommunications sector, has allegedly put thousands of shares into the names of his household servants in an apparent effort to conceal his wealth from the public.

The Democrat Party, which heads the current government and sees Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party as its chief rival, has dared Thaksin to play host at the Johnnie Walker Classic tournament at the risk of political embarassment, said The Nation.

If Thailand's Election Commission rules that Thaksin has deliberately hidden his assets from public scrutiny he may be barred from holding political office for the next five years.

(la/dpa)