Tiger Woods: Advised By Presidents Clinton, Obama

U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have both been offering Tiger Woods encouragement while he's in rehab for sex addiction (and/or drug addiction).

Tiger has spoken with Obama and Clinton, Golf Digest's Jaime Diaz says. One would think both have more important things to do, but hey, that's great.

Diaz also confirms Woods visited the Gentle Path clinic in Mississippi.

Woods came in with a "whatever it takes" mentality, including on "Disclosure Day," whereby patients reveal all of their past indiscretions to their spouse.

So Elin heard about all Tiger Woods' mistresses. Hope they ordered in breakfast, lunch and dinner, 'cause that therapy session couldn't have been brief.

Diaz also confirms that Elin Nordegren visited Woods at the clinic, and that the couple and their children spent Christmas together in Southern California.

Woods' mother is quoted in the article, and is described as "staunchly supportive of her son," despite the damage his sex scandal has caused their family.

Some other sites have made note of Tida Woods' past interviews with Diaz and speculate that she could be the source of many of his piece's revelations.

But the most surprising item in the Golf Digest article is the news about Woods' contact with two presidents. Clinton? Sure, dude's pretty much been there.

But President Obama also making a personal call to offer encouragement? Really, Barack? What do you have to offer, and why does he deserve your help?

As for his return to golf, which remains up in the air after Woods' apology speech, his mother says only following: "He will face himself, solve the problem."

"When he comes back, he will still love to play and love to win. I think more than ever, because his closet will be cleaned out and his mind will be free. And I know he will break [Jack Nicklaus' record 18 major championships]," she says.

That's one thing we wouldn't bet against.

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Bill Clinton Released From Hospital After Surgery

Bill Clinton was released this morning from a New York hospital after having two stents into a clogged coronary artery Thursday after complaining of chest pains.

The one-hour procedure went smoothly, said to the former President's cardiologist, and the 63-year-old was discharged this morning "in excellent health."

Clinton will soon return to his work on Haiti's relief and long-term recovery, his office said, and will both recover fully and resume his "very active lifestyle."

Bill, who could have suffered a heart attack had this gone untreated, had the heart surgery at the same hospital where he had quadruple bypass surgery in 2004.

"This was not a result of either his lifestyle or his diet, which have been excellent," Clinton's cardiologist, Alan Schwartz, told reporters from the hospital steps.

A few stents won't slow a good former president down.

Schwartz said putting in stents were just another step in an ongoing process: "Just as illnesses have natural histories, treatments have natural histories."

Clinton has been working at a grueling pace since the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, but says his demanding schedule did not contribute to heart problems.

Clinton, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, is overseeing the U.S. response with former president George W. Bush and has been there twice in recent weeks.

Clinton was working on issues related to Haiti when he felt chest pains. As he was being wheeled into the operating room, he was still on a conference call.

Pretty standard for this guy. Bill's daughter, Chelsea, joined him at the hospital, an aide said, as did wife and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

President Barack Obama called Clinton yesterday evening and wished him "a speedy recovery," a White House aide said. THG wishes Big Daddy the same.

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Bill Clinton Hospitalized, Undergoes Heart Surgery

Former President Bill Clinton, who has a history of heart problems, was taken to a hospital today and underwent heart surgery there, according to reports.

After he had chest pains, doctors inserted two stents into his native coronary. One bypass graft from Clinton's operation five years ago became obstructed.

Clinton is expected to recover and "continue to focus on the work of his foundation and Haiti’s relief and recovery efforts,” his office said in a statement.

As United Nations special envoy to Haiti, Clinton has been concentrating in recent weeks on disaster relief there after an earthquake took 200,000 lives.

The 63-year-old returned a few days ago from his second trip there since the quake. He and George W. Bush have joined forces in fund raising efforts.

Former President Clinton underwent more heart surgery today.

Clinton had quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery in 2004 and later developed rare complications affecting his lungs that required another operation.

The ex-Commander in Chief was taken today to the Columbia campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital, the same facility he was treated in back then.

Clinton’s health has been a concern ever since the 2004 heart operation. By his own account, the Democratic politician had never been entirely the same.

“It changed me,” he told The New York Times last year. “On normal days ever since I had that heart surgery, I’m a lot more laid back. But if I’m really tired, it’s more difficult for me than when I was back in politics before the heart problem."

"I have no explanation. I’m just observing it. It’s neither an excuse for any mistake I made or anything else. It’s something I’ve noticed. My life has changed.”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton learned of her husband’s condition after concluding a meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

Here's wishing Bubba a speedy and full recovery.

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