"We have a strategic management initiative in the Civil Service these days so maybe that helped me in the Golf Masters," said Tim Morris, who's still trying to figure out how he managed to win the competition at his first attempt.

The answer? Transfers.

True, not all them worked too well. Henrik Stenson, for example, joined Missing Links 3 just in time for the Smurfit European Open. Before then he had won £250,375 . . . in the nine weeks he represented Tim he won precisely £3,000.

But then there were the changes that worked like a dream.

"I brought Darren Clarke in for Tiger Woods in time for the Irish tournaments and he just kept on going, playing almost every week.

"Clarke winning the £400,000 at the European Open was the crunch time in the competition, if you didn't have him you dropped right down.

"I had a great few weeks out of Scott Hoch, too, and of course Paul McGinley - who I transferred in twice - did brilliantly for me."

Out of his original line-up only Robert Karlsson and Ian Poulter remained until the end but there were a few early sackings - Paul Stankowski and David Berganio received their marching orders after only week six of the competition.

Tim used his last two transfers before the European Open, bringing in Bernhard Langer and Stenson, with Langer proving to be the crucial final recruit.

"It was a long haul without any transfers but I felt the team needed some radical surgery. I tried to end up with a team where everyone was earning and as many as possible were in contention for Ryder Cup spots because I figured these guys would be playing week in, week out.

"I was thinking partly of the British Open and partly of the last tournament, which was in Germany, when I brought in Langer - in the end he won over £300,000 for me which really brought me home."