No fear and certainly no regrets. Padraig Harrington, as he prepares for this week’s US Open at Bethpage, insists he's been here before and this time is no different. So there's no panic. Yet, after four missed cuts in his last five tournaments there's not a lot of confidence in the bag either. In an effort to understand the riddle of that swing change and his recent form slump, Karl McGinty approached Harrington as he worked intently on the practice range at Bethpage and, between each shot, at least discovered he's still blessed with the patience of a saint

Q What does missing that cut in Memphis mean for you going into this week?

PH: It's poor in terms of confidence but good in terms of preparation.

Q Is there any temptation to work your socks off on your game this week or is that a thing of the past?

PH: A bit late for that now!

Q When you say confidence, is it really all about trusting your swing?

PH: Oh yeah, all that sort of stuff. But I'll keep working away at it.

Q What can you do to get confidence back into your game?

PH: You just have to wait it out, be patient, do all the right things and let it happen.

Q Yet if you manage to get yourself into contention going into the back nine on Sunday, something else takes over and all this talk about cuts, form or confidence means nothing?

PH: Yeah, totally, though obviously you must be playing well (if you get yourself into that position).

Q Can I ask you a philosophical question? Were you seeking refuge from the pressures of being a three-time Major Champion and your new status in the game when you immersed yourself in that swing change?

PH: No, Let's explain this. Every time during my career when I got to a certain level, I stopped and worked on changes that would help me get to the next level. So I got to No 3 in the world and decided that I had to improve. That's all I did.

Q Did you not have faith in what got you three Majors or to No 3 in the world?

PH: Of course I've faith in what got me there but, to get to the next level, I always feel like I want to keep working. I've done it throughout my career. After getting to every different (level), I step away from it and then come back a second time. Only then do I feel comfortable and feel I can move on from there.

Q Did you do that after Carnoustie as a first-time Major Champion?

PH: Yes, I was trying to do it after Carnoustie. I didn't hit it a lick in the first half of 2008.

Q No, you played quite well early last year?

PH: Well, okay, I did play quite well but I didn't have results. Look, I've been trying to do this (swing change) for a while.

Q Did you feel you needed to improve this facet of your swing because it's what a three-time Major champion should be doing?

PH: No, no, no, it's nothing to do with being a three-times Major champion or No 3 in the world and it wouldn't be for everybody. This is what I do. I always have.

Q Did the swing change turn out to be more complicated than you thought?

PH: No. It took a while to figure out what I needed to do (mechanically) but beyond that no.

Q I've heard that when the change is fully in place, it will be virtually imperceptible to anyone else?

PH: That's right, nobody would notice the change.

Q Are you worried by what's going on now?

PH: No. Not at all.

Q How can you not be worried about your game?

PH: Probably because I've been through it before.

Q Is it a matter of complete faith and belief?

PH: Not really a matter of faith. It's simply a matter of discipline.

QIs that what happened this year? You set aside the discipline and indulged yourself by doing what you like to do and working on your swing?

PH: Yeah, well, I did a different thing. I consciously did something I wanted to do. I've focused on a different area and, obviously, was hoping to get away with it. However, I didn't get away with it. I have at times in the past and there have been other times when I haven't. Yet I'm comfortable with what I did. I just want to get better.

Q When you say you didn't get away with it, how does that manifest itself on the golf course?

PH: I've done this for years and got away with it on the golf course because my short game's been good enough to see me through. Look, this is my answer, right? The three Majors I won came as a result of exactly the same process which has me where I am now.

Q How difficult is it adjusting to the attention you get as a three-time Major Champion?

PH: There's a lot more focus. There are fewer places to hide. That's been the only difference with this (swing change) process. It's more in the public eye that it would have been in the past.