Padraig Harrington confessed he’s still working his way through all the gears of a new swing declaring his work with new coach, Peter Cowen has not yet moved into ‘automatic’ mode.

The triple Major Champion is competing in his second event since switching full-time to work with Cowen.

Harrington took the swing into action at last week’s Austrian Open and despite some anxious moments the Dubliner managed to squeeze through to the weekend rounds.

Padraig Harrington still not in automatic mode with his new swing. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golfimages.com)

However there was better signs on the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and an event Harrington has won twice before.

“My swing is very good in practice but I am still not quite relaxed about it in play,” he said.

“It’s always that much harder when you have a score card in your hand but in saying that I am happy where it is at but it’s not automatic.

“The thing is also is that I hit a lot of 9-irons and wedges to 30-feet and that’s a sign you’re thinking too much.

“But the good thing is that the weakest part of my game is very good at the moment.”

Harrington was at Carnoustie on day two of the $US 5m event and it looked likely the Scottish course was about to take a bite out of the 2007 British Open winner.

Harrington had been forced to wait on the final fairway as a helicopter landed to the side of the hotel before he put his second shot into a greenside bunker.

He then failed to get out of the bunker in regulation before Harrington delighted the crowd and waving his cap in appreciation when he holed his fourth shot for par and a round of 71.

“I was thinking after I hit my tee shot down the middle of the fairway that if I had of done that in 2007 it would have been a lot easier,” said Harrington.

“Then when I found the bunker I thought I was going to end up with the same score.

 “But every single shot I hit today I was thinking back to 2007 and thinking what did I do and what happened here or there.

 “Though I am still very cautious on this golf course and I would rather play it in tougher conditions than what we had today.”

And while Harrington gets comfortable working with Cowen, one of the Yorkshire born pupils in Graeme McDowell revealed he’s added a new coach to ‘Team McDowell’.

In fact, McDowell has gone back to working with Clive Tucker after a two year absence.

“I’m still working with Pete (Cowen) but I’ve also gone back to working with Clive since the PGA Championship,” said McDowell.

“I just felt like I had taken my eye off the basics so I need someone like Clive because he’s a more analytical type of coach.

“Pete’s still my coach with regards playing and short game and Clive’s back on board working with me as far as set-up and stability is concerned.”