Golf news and notes

Paddy's Patty's Day

Padraig Harrington, below, will meet President Barack Obama the day before he begins play in the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor. The Associated Press reported that Ireland's three-time major champion has been invited to the White House on March 17 for an annual St. Patrick's Day party. "I'm looking forward to it," Harrington said. "I want to meet one of the most charismatic people in the world, and the most influential leaders in the world. And he's a golfer. I quite enjoy celebrating St. Patrick's Day." But he'll take it easy on the celebration. "I have a tee time the next day," he said.

Brittany & Barbie

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome has partnered with Mattel's Barbie brand for its "I Can Be …" campaign. Lincicome will help host Barbie-themed golf clinics. The deal includes a series of Barbie-branded clubs and accessories from youth golf manufacturer Acculength. The clubs will be available in stores and online (acculength.com) in time for the April 1-4 LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship, which Lincicome won last year.

Transitions adds

Commitments continue to roll in before the 5 p.m. Friday deadline for the March 18-21 Transitions Championship. The latest include Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Tom Lehman and Corey Pavin. The PGA Tour has contacted all three tournaments scheduled before next month's Masters to make sure they have contingency plans should Tiger Woods decide to play in them. "We've not indicated that we have inside knowledge," tour spokesman Ty Votaw said. "We just want them to be aware so they're not scrambling." For information on the tournament, go to transitionschampionship.com or call (727) 942-5566.

News and notes

Mark O'Meara, a longtime friend of Tiger Woods, said he "wouldn't be surprised" if Woods returns at the Tavistock Cup matches in Isleworth on March 22-23. O'Meara, a neighbor of Woods' in Isleworth at Windemere, said in a Golf Channel interview that the two-day exhibition matches between tour players who live at Isleworth and Lake Nona might be a "nice way" for Woods to "ease back into the whole situation." … Equipment company Acushnet has agreed to sell its Cobra brand to Puma, an apparel company getting into the golf business. … Mangrove Bay, a municipal course in St. Petersburg, hosts its 25th annual club day Saturday. Representatives from club makers will be on the range from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The event is free.

Times staff, wires