Padraig Harrington in the mix in Florida

Padraig Harrington is in the hunt for another title at the Tampa Bay Championship after what he called 'a great day out' at the White House.

Ireland's three-time major winner, who flew to Washington for a St Patrick Day's dinner with President Obama on Wednesday, finished the first round of the Championship at Palm Harbor four behind leader Garrett Willis.

Harrington, who finished his three-under-par opening round of 68 by holing a bunker shot, did not actually meet the President, but was still left with many memories.

The Dubliner took a set of Wilson clubs as a gift - left-handed ones - plus a bag embossed with the ornate presidential seal where the professional's name usually goes.

'I know he will get them and hopefully he will like them,' said Harrington, who estimated there were about 150 people at the reception.

Obama addressed the entire gathering and then came out to shake hands, but Harrington missed out on that as he had a private plane waiting to return to the tournament.

He did, though, have the chance to wander around the White House and added: 'The day was more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

'The actual White House was far better. I just liked the fact that it was very welcoming. That was the thing that stood out the most.
You could go and sit in the library. It was just very relaxing in that sense. The people there were very friendly.'

Willis, playing on a sponsor invitation and 251st in the world, ended the day two strokes in front of Swede Carl Pettersson, defending champion Retief Goosen and home quartet Jim Furyk, Jonathan Byrd, Jeff Maggert and rising star Rickie Fowler.

Maggert came into the field when Vijay Singh pulled out with a back injury.

England's Ross Fisher, playing only his fifth tournament this year, was in a share of second place with two to play, but failed to get up and down from a bunker at the short 17th and finished with a 68.

'I've been playing really well all year,' said Willis, whose only PGA Tour victory came in Tucson nine years ago.

'I've made four out of five cuts and I really haven't capitalised on my play. I put myself in position a couple of times and slipped back.'

His round included a chip-in three on the 10th which provided the spark for a back nine 30.

Scot Martin Laird had a one-under 71 and English pair Luke Donald and Brian Davis both signed for 71s, but Ian Poulter, Greg Owen and Justin Rose had disappointing rounds of 73.

Poulter, winner of the WGC Match Play in Arizona last month, is playing his last Tour event before next month's Masters, while former European number one Rose is hoping to climb into the world's top 50 in time for Augusta. He is currently 59th.

As for Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, he crashed to a 12-over-par 83 on his return to America from his high school graduation.