Defending Dunhill Links champion Padraig Harrington claims that his obsession with improving his swing may have cost him the chance of winning more tournaments.
Despite climbing to number nine in the world rankings, the Irishman with a reputation for practicing as hard as anyone in the game has won only seven tour events since turning professional in 1995.
"I have been obsessed with my swing for the past five years," he told a news conference the day before beginning his defence of the Dunhill Links Championship.
"Sometimes that has been to the detriment of individual tournaments," he added.
The 32-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time, said it had always been his plan to put in plenty of practice early in his career.
"Hopefully, in the future I won't have to work so hard," he said. "I will have a low-maintenance golf swing and will be able to spend more time with the family.
"As you get older you won't have to work so hard. Now it seems like your mid-30s is your peak time as a professional golfer.
Harrington, whose favourite driver broke last week to give him another problem to work on, thinks his victory in last year's Dunhill Links Championship, when he edged out Argentine Eduardo Romero in a playoff, was one of his most significant.
"I hadn't won for a while and it gave me a great sense of accomplishment," he said. "I wasn't swinging the club very well but I just wanted to win so badly, to get the job done by any means.
South African Ernie Els, the world number two, heads a strong field this year, including world number three Vijay Singh, former major winners Nick Price, Nick Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal, seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie and U.S. PGA champion Shaun Micheel.
The winner will collect $800,000 on Sunday, one of the largest prizes in world golf.
Harrington enjoys the format of the tournament played on three different courses, St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
The professionals are also paired with amateurs, who this year include film star Samuel L Jackson, model Jodie Kidd, Australia cricketer Shane Warne and former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. The amateurs have a separate competition.
"This is a bit of a show, it's not just a golf tournament," Harrington said. "You can have a bit of fun out on the course and my character suits this format.
Harrington admitted, though, to a touch of stage fright when seeing the actor Hugh Grant in the lift of his hotel.
"I had met him before but I didn't think he would remember me so I didn't say anything," Harrington said. "But it's brilliant to see these guys in real life.