European Open: If you're permitted to stretch the imagination, then the metamorphosis is akin to that of the ugly duckling transforming into a swan. In this case, it's the golfer that once was Padraig Harrington and now is Padraig Harrington.

"This is our seventh year together and we've changed everything. His swing, his leg action, his posture," remarked the player's septuagenarian coach, Bob Torrance.

In reflective mood standing on the range at The K Club yesterday in the run-up to the Smurfit European Open, there was - understandably - more than a trace of pride in Torrance's observation. In their time together, his prized pupil has progressed from being a player outside the world's top 50 into an almost permanent fixture in the top 10.

Since the partnership was struck up, Harrington has won in Asia, South America, Europe and the United States, most recently in the Barclays Classic at Westchester last Sunday, his second win of the season on the US Tour.

"He's totally remodelled my golf swing and last week's win was very much a win for Bob Torrance . . . he has done a tremendous job," said Harrington, adding: "It has been interesting over the seven years doing it.

"Bob had a vision from the start and that has never wavered. I have had to try and understand that vision. He has done a tremendous amount and it is a testament to him that the Barclays was won with driving and iron play rather than anything else."

In Harrington, Torrance has found a range rat who isn't afraid of hard work, the graft that reaps its own reward.

"Padraig's in my house as often as I am," quipped Torrance, a reference to the Dubliner's penchant for scurrying over to Largs in Scotland in between tournaments to work on his swing, often from early morning till late in the evening. But, then, you suspect Torrance wouldn't have it any other way. His work ethic is simply mirrored by his pupil.

"No matter what walk of life you take, if you don't work, you don't get rewards," said Torrance. "You've got to work in every form of life, you don't get anywhere if you don't.

"Bobby Locke never practised, he saw it as a waste of good shots. Unorthodox players don't practise a lot. Orthodox players will, and Padraig's very orthodox. Padraig's a good pupil, although he argues a lot. I'm the one who is supposed to argue, he's supposed to listen."

Harrington first made the approach to Torrance on the range at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond seven years ago, convinced that Bob - the father of Sam - was the right man for the job of reconstructing the mechanics of his swing.

Torrance, at the time, was working with Paul McGinley and Harrington was impressed with what had developed in that relationship.

Now, Torrance numbers Harrington, McGinley and Gary Murphy in his coaching stable, which also includes Sam - nowadays mainly playing on the Seniors Tour - and his grandson Daniel, who has followed in the family's professional tradition.

The remodelling of Harrington has been an unqualified success, so much so that player and coach are at one in what is required to keep it that way.

"It's great to come and see Bob at a tournament for half an hour like I did today and he gives me a couple of things to work on, nothing major. I don't have to pull my swing apart. It is getting to be low maintenance now. There is less to fall apart so there is less work to do on it," said Harrington, who decided that some time on the range and the putting green yesterday was sufficient to refuel body and soul rather than venturing out onto the course.

Ironically, given it was his monster eagle putt on the last that will be the memory of Harrington winning in Westchester, he felt obliged to spend time on the putting green yesterday working with putting guru Harold Swash.

Harrington explained: "It was a strange week for me. I led the greens in regulation, drove it really well and was up there in the driving distance . . . but I struggled around the greens. I chipped average, my bunker play is disastrous and my putting has been suspect all year. It was a very strange week in that sense.

"My normal strengths when I win tournaments were not on last week, that was an opposite week for me and putting has definitely been the weakness. Four three-putts during the week? Two in the last round? I've never won a tournament before like that."

So it was that his time yesterday was spent making whatever minor adjustments were required as he prepared to carry on the momentum of Westchester into this week's €3.4-million tournament.

"There's definitely a momentum and a confidence side to winning. I harp on about being patient and waiting for things to turn around, and it is good when they do turn around. It's nice to take the opportunities when they do come around," said Harrington.

In Torrance's eyes, there is a belief Harrington will win again this season. "I thought he'd win a major this year . . . of course, he can still win the (British) Open or the PGA. I'm not saying he will, but it won't surprise me if he does. When Padraig came back from the Honda (in March), he was on a high. Then he found out about his father and he went from the highest he could be to the lowest he could be and that must have knocked him back for weeks. But he's got to go out and try. He can't go out and not try. That's what won him the Barclays. He hung in there and, at the end, (Jim) Furyk was shattered."

But that ability to hang in there didn't come as any great surprise to anyone, and least of all to Torrance.