WASHINGTON - President Obama was proud and House Speaker John Boehner was exhilarated.
No, this wasn't a celebration of some big White House-Congress deal on the national debt. Just a couple of weekend golfers hitting the links on a sunny Saturday.
Obama brought Boehner, R-Ohio, to his home course for their much anticipated round, the first time the political rivals and avid golfers have played together.
The four-hour outing came amid heightened tensions between the White House and Capitol Hill over deficit-reduction negotiations and U.S. military's involvement in Libya. But aides to both Obama and Boehner said their time on the course was more about stroking putts than striking deals.
The president and the speaker were joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Ohio's Republican Gov. John Kasich for a 9:30 a.m. tee time at the course at Joint Base Andrews, where the president is a frequent weekend golfer.
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The White House made a rare exception and allowed the press to watch Obama and his playing partners finish the first hole, a par five.
Biden was cool under pressure, sinking a 15-to-20 foot putt. The president putted for par, tapping in a short one after missing a 12-footer. Kasich missed a long 30-footer, then tapped in for par. Boehner, one of the best golfers in Congress, gave a hearty "Oh yeah!" after draining a short putt.
Obama, who is not in Boehner's links league, patted the speaker on the back as they headed toward the second hole, the president driving their cart.
White House officials played coy about whether they would release the score.
