Golf Dubai Desert ClassicEven when he's not here, he's everywhere. On the way into the Emirates Golf Club, there is a giant billboard with Tiger Woods in classic follow-through pose; obviously commissioned before the world's number one decided, on security advice, not to make the trip to Dubai.

As the car containing Padraig Harrington swung in through the entry gate yesterday morning, it was the image of Woods that served as a reminder of the journey the Irishman still must make in competition this year.

When Harrington and Woods went head-to-head in the Target World Challenge last December, it was Harrington who triumphed. It marked his third win in a matter of two months, having previously claimed the Dunhill Links and Asian Open.

Both players subsequently took a nine-week break from the game (Woods underwent knee surgery) but, since resuming competition, the win ratio has been decidedly lopsided: Woods has won twice, including last weekend's Accenture matchplay, while Harrington has yet to get a top-10 finish.

There are no alarm bells ringing, however. Far from it. Yesterday, standing on the range, Harrington looked at ease with the world. Despite having traversed 12 time zones, with a brief weekend respite in Dublin on his way from Los Angeles to the Gulf, Harrington professed to suffering no effects of jet lag. "It's amazing, really, but I'm obviously doing all the right things. My discipline (on flights) is good," he said.

After delaying his 2003 debut until the Malaysian Open two weeks ago, Harrington is still searching for the sharpness that was evident in his game towards the tail-end of last season.

"I did a lot of work during the winter but, really, it is only when you get competitive play that you discover where you are at. Sometimes you tend to overdo things (in practice) and might neglect something else.

"I'm more than happy with the work I did on my swing over the winter and I'm also happy with my short game work . . . but putting, pitching and my mental routine are the three areas I need to get a handle on, certainly before the US Masters," insisted Harrington.

By the time the drive up Magnolia Lane at Augusta National beckons, he will be fighting fit.

His itinerary takes him to Qatar next week - "There's no reason (to pull out)" - and then a week's break before three back-to-back tournaments in America starting with the Players' Championship, followed by the BellSouth and, finally, the Masters.

Although his win in the Asian Open last December formed part of this year's Order of Merit, Harrington's two competitive appearances over the past fortnight emphasise that regaining tournament sharpness is not easy.

"It really does take a while to come back. Even if you practice hard during the winter, when you come out you are never quite there. That's the thing with practice. It always takes a while before it gells into your game."

That inconsistency was evident in Malaysia and California. In Malaysia, he put himself into contention only to falter in the final round. In La Costa, he played two sharply contrasting rounds. "Majestic," on the first day in accounting for John Cook; "very poor," in his defeat to Scott Hoch.

He explained: "It was nothing to do technically with how I was swinging the golf club, it was how my head was working. It was the same in Malaysia - for the first couple of rounds the focus was strong because it's your first round out and you are really in there. My inconsistency is due to the mental routine more than anything else."

There was never any question Harrington wouldn't play in Dubai. "I like the course. I like the place, the atmosphere," he said. He should. It was here in 2001 he finished tied-second with Woods behind the winner Thomas Bjorn.

The course has been toughened up with narrower fairways and higher rough in an attempt to stop a repeat of the 22-under-par winning total that year.

"A lot will depend on the speed of the greens, and whether this wind keeps up," said Harrington.

The putter Harrington has designed for himself is still a "a work in progress". Harrington has faithfully left it in the hands of putting guru Harold Swash to ensure the finished product will be delivered at some stage but, as he knows, even then it is unlikely to lead to any quick fix.

"You'd always like to speed it all up, and I'd love to be ready by Thursday. And hopefully I will be. As golfers, that's the great thing. We always hope we are going to be ready."