The real strength of the commercial relationship between Fijian golfer Vijay Singh and shamed Texan banker Allen Stanford emerged last week.

Singh, who Stanford sponsored to the tune of US$3 million a year, was one of three people to offer to sign for a portion of the financier's bail last week. Singh would have been liable for US$500,000 if Stanford fled. That was not necessary - indeed, the Fijian was not allowed to help with bail because he is not a US citizen.

However, 46-year-old Singh, who was number one in the world for 32 weeks across 2004 and 2005, has continued to wear Stanford's logos on his golfing apparel despite no longer being paid by the Texan.

Dave Haggith, a spokesman for Singh's management agency IMG, said: "Vijay's opinion is that Stanford has yet to be proven guilty and until then has chosen to act supportively."

Sources inside the magistrates court in Houston last week report that the judge agreed to free Stanford on a US$2 million bond, with a $100,000 cash deposit. Under the terms set by the court, Stanford must live in Houston, submit to electronic monitoring and surrender his Antiguan passport.