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White House spokesman said Thursday that President Barack Obama believes women should be admitted as members to the all-male Augusta National, home of the Masters golf tournament.

White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters that Obama's "personal opinion is that women should be admitted" to the golf club. Carney said it was "up to the club to decide" but Obama told him he thinks women should be welcome.

"We're kind of long past the time when women should be excluded from anything," Carney said.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Obama's likely challenger in the fall, said "of course" he would allow women in "if I could run Augusta."

error forces donald's card to be rechecked

Luke Donald's card had to be rechecked after a keystroke error left him with the wrong score during the first round of the Masters.

The world's top-ranked player signed for a 3-over 75, including a three-putt bogey on No. 5 Thursday, and the card was verified. But the person entering scores into the computer put him down for a 3, giving him a 73. Once the error was spotted, Donald's score had to be re-verified.

Had Donald signed for the wrong score, he would have been disqualified.

mickelson shows up early to see the big 3

Phil Mickelson did something he'd always wanted to do in 20 years of playing the Masters.

Despite having the last tee time of the day, at 1:53 p.m., Mickelson was at Augusta National six hours early to watch Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial first shots. In his green jacket, no less.

"I've been wanting to do that every year, and this worked out great because I had the last tee time," Mickelson said. "It's an experience that I really enjoyed - watching those guys hit it, what they have meant to the game of golf. They're the Big Three and they brought the game to where it is. Anybody who has a chance to come to the Masters, it's worth getting up early to watch those guys tee off."

Seeing Mickelson on the first tee meant a lot to Palmer, Nicklaus and Player, too. The three combined to win 13 Masters among their 34 major titles.

"A nice compliment," Nicklaus said.

home cooking is the secret for bradley

Here's one way to ease the Masters jitters: Pretend you're at home.

PGA champion Keegan Bradley has most of his family on hand for his Masters debut. His aunt, LPGA great Pat Bradley, is in town, and he got to see his nephew before he teed off. Not only did his mother, Kaye, caddie for him in the Par 3 contest Wednesday, she cooked his favorite dinner later that night.

"A special chicken that she makes and corn and rice," he said, "so it felt like home."

Every little bit helps at Augusta National, which is notoriously tough on rookies. Only three first-timers have won, and none since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. But Bradley looked quite comfortable among the Georgia pines.

After a messy double-bogey on No. 1, he didn't drop another stroke until 18. He was back to par by the time he teed off on No. 5, holing out from the front right bunker on the par-3 fourth.