AS EXPECTED, there was plenty of change in the overall standings after the Irish Open, where bonus points left managers with much to ponder especially with €400,000 up for grabs for an Irish winner, which so nearly happened.

As Kerry came to terms with handing Sam back, the Kingdom’s golfing fraternity was busy willing home every putt that left Pádraig Harrington’s blade.

It wasn’t to be though and Ross Fisher was a deserving winner.

As it was, 38 of you were glad to have put Harrington in your team for the week, while eight managers can only wonder where their marbles had gone after dropping the 2007 champion. There wasn’t the same transfer activity regarding Fisher but at least 11 of you brought the Englishman in and nobody dropped him.

No team this week had both Fisher and Greenbrier winner, Stuart Appleby – sure, why would you, considering the tripe the Australian had been playing up to this point?

Anyway, The Rathdowney Tigers were knocked off top spot by an effort befitting of He-Man, as Masters Of The Universe moved from 12th place to assume the leading position.

David Kenny’s team had the two runners-up in Harrington and Overton in the ranks, with Darren Clarke also contributing well. Masters Of The Universe now lead with €2,257,888. Second-placed Rathdowney Tigers pinned their hopes on the young shoulders of Rory McIlroy, while Niall Cullen’s CLG GnhE, in third, went for a three-pronged Irish attack with McDowell, Clarke and McGrane.

This week, attentions turn to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, where Harrington, McIlroy and McDowell are in action. With just four week’s to run in the Masters it’s time to use those transfers wisely, if, like the leading three teams, there’s still money in the tank.