Thaksin followed the golfing legend in taking the ceremonial inaugural tee shots on the second course at Pine Valley golf club.

 However his time since the end of his political career appeared not to have been spent on improving his golf game, as his drive ducked left in an awful hook.

 Reporters were unable to ask him about sport or politics as he avoided them after the ceremony.

 Golf course officials said Thaksin had no connection with the club but was there at the invitation of an Asia Golf Club Association official who was a personal friend.

 Thaksin, a former telecoms magnate, was abroad last September when a bloodless military coup deposed him amid allegations of massive corruption and he has since bounced between Europe and Asia.

 Prosecutors have already filed tax evasion charges against his wife and two of his children.

 New Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said this month that charges against Thaksin himself could be filed soon, accusing him of abusing state power, widespread corruption, curtailing media freedoms and human rights abuses.

Agence France Presse