We all know that things written in cyberspace can take on a life of their own. There has been a "story" circulating across the Internet the past few days with a gambling tale involving Phil Mickelson. It described a six-figure gambling debt incurred over a practice round with members at Augusta National Golf Club leading into this year's Masters tournament.

The item was posted on a Web site called Golfwrx.com (it has since been pulled) and across the top of it read: "From a GolfWeek (sic) insider." This is not true. As the editor of Golfweek, I can assure our readers that nobody at our magazine or Web site (Golfweek.com) had anything to do with this post, which went online (go figure) on April 1.

The fact that Golfweek is in no way involved with this story was pointed out to two key members of the Mickelson camp on the eve of the Masters. A spokesman from Mickelson's camp called the post "baseless" and "erroneous."

And now we return to the Masters ...