A bunch of female groupies with cell phone cameras rapidly clicking away in their hands defied the scorching heat on the resort island to cheer on the world's fourth-ranked player, who has the sculpted figure of a Greek God.

Their support did not, however, change the fortunes of the former champion. Scott stumbled to three-over par on the opening day and although he improved to four-under on Sunday, it was too little and too late to catch up with young gun Haig, who prevailed in the three-way play-off over Oliver Wilson and Richard Sterne.

But that was immaterial to Scott's gaggle of cute fans who bombarded the amiable Aussie with numerous requests, such as signing their clothes and belongings and having their picture taken alongside him. Confident in his superstar status, the crowd favourite never once showed any sign of boredom and kept obliging the lovelies. A middle-aged woman, apparently a die-hard fan, could not suppress her feelings for the Australian hunk. "I love you," she told him to his face. It didn't shake our hero. He was either too shy to reply or has heard it a thousand times before - he just silently made his way back to his hotel.

Poo-khai is on comeback trail

After disappearing from sight for a few years, renowned equestrian Pongsiri "Poo-khai" Banlue-wong is on the verge of making a television comeback, but in a new role.

The heart-throb rider shot to fame when he won a gold medal for Thailand in the Busan Asian Games in 2002. He then made a smooth transition to television when he became a soap-opera star. And then he suddenly disappeared from the radar.

Recently, Poo-khai was approached by a producer at Channel 11 to become a news reader and cover some sports tournaments. He has gleefully accepted it.

The programme will be aired sometime this month. But his route to the new job is paved with pine needles rather than roses. He needs to get an announcer's licence, which everybody feels is as difficult as swimming one of those treacherous straits.

"I am really interested in this job. It is a new challenge. However, I have to pass the exam first, which is a major hurdle," he said with a worried look.

The power of persuasion

National soccer team coach Chanvit Pholchivin shocked the country when he quit the post last month to take a coaching job at Vietnam's V-League outfit Dong Thap. The 52-year-old looked poised to complete his stunning move before making an equally shocking decision at the last minute to stay on and work for the national team for at least another year.

Football Association of Thailand officials initially did not oppose Chanvit's move even though it would have been a huge blow for Thai football had he taken the helm at the V-League newcomers. Now the secret is out as to what prompted the u-turn. Tourism and Sports minister Suwit Yodmanee had a role in persuading Chanvit to stay.

Chanvit said Suwit played a key role in influencing him to change his mind after the two had spent hours talking privately. "It was impossible for me to refuse a man in the position of a minister pleading with me to stay. He urged me to think of the country first," said Chanvit, who missed a golden chance to secure a contract worth around Bt20 million. Patriots do exist in the Kingdom!

Patience, thy name is Paradorn

Paradorn Srichaphan is not known for being patient on court but when it comes to romance, he can wait for as long as three hours. Last weekend the tennis celebrity was spotted inside a beauty parlour in Canada for three hours, waiting for his "special friend" Miss Universe Natalie Glebova.

 "Fah" (sky), the Thai nick-name given by Paradorn's father to the 2005 Miss Universe, returned home to be a judge at the Miss Canada pageant on Sunday and was accompanied by the tennis star who was supposed to be in Indian Wells to swing his racquet for the first time in a month. A Nathalie fan posted on her website that the Thai didn't complain a bit during the marathon hair-do and managed to get out of the parlour just once to buy a few T-shirts and a suit in Donna Karan's boutique as his suitcase had gone missing.

Nathalie chatted to the fan and even mentioned that her relationship with Paradorn is equivalent to the Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) couple, who are big targets of the paparazzi.

According to a local TV channel, tabloids were willing to pay up to Bt20,000 for a private photo of Ball and Fah.