Golf: Padraig Harrington is always looking for a change. The Dubliner turned up in Kuala Lumpur this week sporting a dyed blonde hairdo, the result of his now-annual trip to the stylist.

Two years ago he shaved it all off. Last year he went spiky. This Christmas, as he enjoyed a nine-week break from the game to enjoy the company of his new little boy, Harrington opted for "cappuccino blonde".

It raised more than a few laughs when he strolled into the clubhouse of the Sujuana Golf and Country Club yesterday, posing as photographers gleefully snapped his bonce.

But in more ways than just the hairdo, there is a new-look Harrington back on the scene. The 32-year-old, the highest-ranked player in the Malaysian Open field, spent those nine weeks continuing his endless search for the perfect swing.

"I do like a long winter break because I do change things," he said, referring to his swing and not his hair.

"I work on my game. I am always trying new things with my swing, always. I question whether I will ever come to the stage where I will be happy and will not be changing something.

"Always trying to seek out something different is an unending task, but that is the way I am."

And yet, despite this obsessive quest, Harrington continues to win tournaments. Just before Christmas, he won his eighth career title, the Hong Kong Open, while tinkering with his swing. Paul McGinley, also playing in Kuala Lumpur this week, puts that down to a magnificent short game, which allows Harrington the luxury of experimentation.

Harrington works with coach Bob Torrance and the aim now is to put all the changes made over the last five years into place all at once - because Harrington is concerned that unless he starts playing for now instead of always preparing for the future, his career will slip by all too quickly.

"I am 32 years of age. Golfers peak between 30 and 40, so I should be in my prime, and at some stage I have to get to the situation where I am happy with what I have got and am actually playing rather than developing my swing for the next season.

"I do question whether I will be able to do it. But I do realise that I have got to start playing at some stage."

Harrington is playing catch-up of sorts after slipping down the rankings to world number 11.

"It's tough to sit there and drop back the rankings. You have to be very patient and strong to do that. You feel you are giving people a headstart by not coming out and you have to be confident when you come out and play again you can make it up."

Harrington is, as ever, excited at the challenges that lie ahead. "I am now out starting with plenty of things to work on," he said.

Damien McGrane completes the Irish line-up this week.