Tiger Woods took to the links with President Obama on Sunday for the first time ever, according to Golf World’s Tim Rosaforte.
Early reports noted that Obama’s trip to Florida was to tune up his game with Woods’ former coach, Butch Harmon. Apparently Saturday’s reported eight-hour session with Harmon, which included 27 holes, went well, since the Hacker in Chief was confident enough to match his game against the world’s second best golfer at The Floridian in Palm City, Fla.
"The President is arriving at The Floridian range,” @TimRosaforte tweeted on Sunday. “Awaiting is Tiger Woods and club owner Jim Crane. Historic day in golf. Their first round.”
Prior to their tee time, Obama told Tiger he enjoyed seeing him “play well again,” according to GolfDigest.com. He then watched as Woods holed out for birdie on the first hole and the two (accompanied by Crane and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk) played nine in just over two hours and got in another 18 before calling it a day.
"I like the fact he loves golf," Harmon told the publication. "He counts every shot. He doesn't like gimmes. He putts everything out. He counts all his penalty shots. He thinks about all his shots before he hits them.
“Some people might say to the President of the United States, 'Oh, just move it.' But that's not him,” Harmon added. “He loves the game and loves the game the way it's supposed to be played."
Woods will play for real starting Wednesday in the PGA Tour's Match Play Championship in Arizona. It will be the first start for the 14-time major champ since his Farmers Insurance Open victory last month.
Obama, who was rumored to have a match set up with Woods several years ago on Martha’s Vineyard, was expected to return to the White House on Monday.
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