Physically drained after yet another long day of stifling humidity, Ireland's duo walked off the course satisfied with a fourth-place finish in their third successive World Cup together. In the process, they won what amounted to a four-ball battle with playing partners England. That was where their respective wives entered the picture. While the Irish scorecards were being checked and signed, Allison McGinley and Caroline Harrington sensed that something interesting might be happening out on the 18th. And their female intuition was spot on.

Argentina were in third place on 15 under par with one hole to play. Under the watchful eyes of the two women, however, Angel Cabrera three-putted for a bogey and his partner, Eduardo Romero also carded a five after failing to get up and down from off the green. They had slipped back behind the Irish.

"That's the Christmas shopping money," said the wives, hardly aware that the difference actually amounted to a sizeable $12,500 per player. In fact they each received $62,500 which means that in three World Cups, they have been first, sixth and third for a cumulative reward of $292,500 each.

The fact was that they competed admirably, from tied fifth at the end of the first round to seventh at the halfway stage and fifth again behind the US entering the final round.

Being paired with England's Mark James and Peter Baker clearly sharpened the competitive edge. "There's no doubt they helped us score better," said McGinley. "But poor Myles Byrne (Baker's Irish caddie) got a terrible slagging from us for consorting with the enemy."

Harrington, who had a closing 67 for an eight-under-par 276 total, finished tied seventh in the individual table, out of the money. McGinley's final round of 68 left him 14th. They were set fair for a good finale when Harrington birdied three of the opening six holes, starting with a wedge to three feet at the first. But a sloppy approach cost him a stroke at the eighth and he had another bogey at the ninth, though in this instance he was more than pleased to accept it.

"That was the world's greatest five - it could have been an eight," said McGinley. Harrington pulled his drive into an unplayable lie and after taking a penalty drop, he also hooked the next into trouble. Faced with a pitch of 80 yards to one of the more dangerous greens, he succeeded in playing a superb shot which almost finished in the cup before resting four feet past.

From there on, the Dubliner made three further birdies, sinking putts of eight feet and three feet at the 12th and 14th and then chipping to three feet from off the front of the long 17th. Harrington heads from here to Japan where he plays in the Casio Tournament later this week. Then, after a one-week break, he will be off to South America for the Argentina Open.

McGinley had four birdies and a lone bogey in yesterday's round. Putts of eight feet and 35 feet found the target for birdies at the sixth and seventh and an outward 33. Then, after missing the green with a three-iron approach for a bogey at the 12th, he chipped close for birdies at both the 15th and 17th.

From here, he heads further east for this week's Australian Open at Royal Sydney. After that, he returns home for a winter break.