"Golf shoes in the Oval Office could have been a clue."

AP's Darlene Superville with the first clue that Sunday wasn't a normal golf day for President Obama.

Come Sunday, Obama headed for the Andrews Air Force Base golf course, as he does on many weekends when the weather is nice. But he only played nine holes, instead of his customary 18, leaving after about three hours. The reporters who accompany him on public outings didn't think anything was amiss and thought the chilly, rainy weather played into the president's decision to leave several hours earlier than usual.

What they didn't know was that Obama was heading back for that final meeting on the bin Laden operation.

In retrospect, there were a few meager clues that something may have been going on. Take the golf shoes in the Oval Office, for example. Photos of Obama walking up the path to his office also showed him with a tense look and clenched jaw.

Comments

[CJ]

It took him 3 hours to play 9 holes?!?

[JR]

There was a backup on the drive-able par 4

[A3golfer]

I don't get what the clue is. The cool professorial demeanor displayed by the prez, criticized by the left constantly, turned into a great display of fortitude this weekend. A change I can believe in from the last guy, who liked to talk like a cowboy.

[Eric]

I think the 20 or so carts of security that follow him slows him down a little bit. Can't imagine anybody would try to hit through...

[fourputter]

Thank God no-one ever checked out (or cared) whether I had a tense look and clenched jaw after finishing a round of golf!

[Jim]

I heard he put one in the water Sunday. Way out in the ocean.

[Evil Twin]

In defense of the president...there was a small pond on the 479 yd par 5.

He thought if he hit a terrific shot he had a chance to reach on his 6th shot with a 3wd from 158, but after careful consideration of the risks he decided to layup with a 7i and a SW.

This decision is notable in that it took slightly less time than the 16 hrs it took to process the kill Bin Laden decision.

[pasaplayer]

Man, how can anybody find fault in our President's response to finding and killing bin Laden? Any Bush apologist between 911 and 1/09 would have given their first born to have their man in the White House orchestrating this take down (as unlikely as it was given the focus on Baghdad). Folks, we're all in this together. Tee it up and relax. We've got a thinking man in the White House for a change.

[S. Sayre]

9 holes and a dead (very) bad guy is an excellent day by any measure..Low personal 18 hole score can wait.

[Calvin Coolidge]

Jim

Best. Post. Ever.

[Del the Funk]

I'm with Calvin...kudos Jim.

Eric, 41 played 18 holes in 2 hours no problem with a full Secret Service detail.

[LadyH]

It takes a lot of thought to read a teleprompter.

[Eric]

@Del, yeah, but he's a Hall of Fame golfer. Obama's just a high handicapper.

[Steve Wozeniak PGA]

Jim.........you made my morning, thank you.

[CMA]

thank goodness he got in an even 9. God forbid he have to stop before the turn to deal with national security.

[Buffett]

Osama, meet The Great White Shark.