Anyway, it won’t be the first or last time we “agree to disagree”! Keep up the good work.

Mel, Yes, I did have both as good bets, though I must admit that I turned sour on Choi’s chances once the pairings were announced. Other good picks were Els and Harrington to not contend. But, alas, I said to “save your money” when betting on the winner - and I’m a big fan of Phil’s. Makes me want to leave predictions to the bookies!

On the other hand, the contrarian in me refuses to buy into the idea that Phil’s win was in any way due to, or even symbolic of, his apparent devotion to his family. First, being a good family man should be its own reward. Let’s not pretend it will make you a better golfer.

Second (and more seriously), by focusing on Phil’s apparent personal virtue, aren’t we just repeating the same mistake we made with Tiger and a whole slew of other professional athletes who have fallen from grace? What if we find out tomorrow that Phil has had a string of girlfriends on the side? Do we then need to tear him down and designate some other seemingly good family guy as golf’s standard-bearer for marital fidelity?

The fact is, we have all the information we could ever need in order to evaluate Tiger, Phil, or any player, as a golfer. When it comes to evaluating them as human beings, however, we’re pretty much flying blind. We really don’t know what sort of stuff is going on with them once they step outside the ropes. Tiger’s situation should serve as a fairly strong reminder of this fact.

Phil’s a great golfer, and while I presume he’s also a winner off the course, I think I’ll just leave it at that.