Less than a month since commencing his second term in the White House, Obama, an avid golfer, played his first round of golf with the former world champion, Tiger Woods.
Mr Obama is on a three-day golf trip in Florida, while his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha are on a skiing trip in Colorado over the President’s Day weekend break.
The president and Woods, who won his 75th title last month, were joined on the course by US Trade representative Ron Kirk, and Jim Crane, the owner of the exclusive Floridian Yacht and Golf Club where they played.
While media were not permitted on the course to record the historic Obama-Woods round, Golf Digest writer Tim Rosaforte broke the news via Twitter.
“Historic day in golf. Their first round,” Rosaforte tweeted, later reporting that Woods holed out from a greenside sand bunker on the first hole. There was no word on how the president played.
The day before the celebrity match, the president was spotted receiving tips on how to polish his game from Woods’ former swing coach, Butch Harmon.
Woods, who usually steers clear of politics, is believed to be trying to rebuild his once clean image, which was tarnished by a messy divorce that was marred by an extramarital affair, more than two years ago.
Obama and Woods last met in 2009, when the legendary athlete paid a visit to the White house.
Like many presidents before him, Obama has escaped the pressure of the job by taking to a round of golf with friends, and has reportedly played more than 100 rounds of the sport during his time in office.
