Harrington's work ethic and swing change earns Tiger praise

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Tiger Woods knows a thing or two about revamping the golf swing and has applauded Padraig Harrington's decision to focus on his game instead of results since last year.

Irishman Harrington, known for his workaholic approach, won the final two majors of 2008 before deciding to refine his downswing for the first eight months of this season.

He produced a string of dismal finishes on the PGA and European tours, including eight missed cuts, before finally running into form at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"You have to make changes in order to get better," Woods told reporters of Harrington, who took a one-shot lead after firing a one-under-par 69 in Friday's second round at Firestone Country Club.

"A lot of times you're going to get worse before you get better. It's a matter of other parts of your game trying to pick you up and understanding how to score when you don't have your best stuff.

"But you know it's coming," added the 14-times major winner, who has twice revamped his own swing since turning professional in late 1996.

"You have to believe in what you're doing and you have to believe that what you're doing is right, even though people tell you what you're doing is wrong.

LOTS OF BOMBARDMENT

"It's just that you're going to get a lot of bombardment, not just from the media but from fans, from friends, family -- they're going to always doubt and question you."

By his own lofty standards, Woods endured relatively lean spells after initially revamping his swing with Butch Harmon in 1998 and then doing so again with Hank Haney in 2003 and 2004.

He triumphed only once on the PGA Tour in 1998 before winning eight titles on the U.S. circuit the following year.

In 2003 and 2004, he failed to clinch a single major victory although he managed to pile up six tournament wins on the PGA Tour during that period.

"You've got to have the internal resolve to stick with what you believe is going to be right and you're going to get better," said Woods, who carded a 70 on Friday to trail Harrington by five shots.

Harrington, who has not triumphed on any of the leading tours since clinching his third major title at the PGA Championship 12 months ago, agreed.

"That's part of my nature," the 37-year-old Dubliner said. "I want to do it my way. That's what's got me here, that's what will keep me going forward.