Tiger Woods joins vacationing Obama for golf round

Palm City (Florida), Feb 18 (AP) President Barack Obama played golf Sunday with Tiger Woods, the White House said Sunday. Once the sport's dominant player before his career was sidetracked by scandal, Woods joined Obama at the Floridian, a secluded and exclusive yacht and golf club on Florida's Treasure Coast where Obama is spending the long Presidents Day holiday weekend. The two had met before, but Sunday was the first time they played together. The White House has prohibited media coverage of Obama's weekend golf outing. The foursome also included Jim Crane, a Houston businessman who owns the Floridian and Major League Baseball's Houston Astros, and outgoing U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, a former mayor of Dallas, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Crane and Kirk also were part of Obama's foursome on Saturday, the White House said. Obama, an avid golfer, also received some instruction Saturday and played a few holes with Butch Harmon, Woods' former swing coach. Golf Digest reported that Obama spent eight hours with Harmon, during which he played 27 holes and hit balls in Harmon's studio, and then managed to coordinate Sunday's round with Woods. More (AFP) AT AT 02180950 NNNN