Champs look for Hawaii flyer

Chopra back to defend title, but big four all absent

Last updated: 7th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Champs look for Hawaii flyer

Chopra: defending champion

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The 2009 PGA Tour season gets underway in Hawaii this week with the winners from 2008 competing to get a head-start on their rivals at the £3.75 million Mercedes-Benz Championship.

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The season starts in earnest at the Sony Open next week, which boasts a full field, but in Maui a select group of 33 players will tee it up looking to get their campaign off to a flyer.

There will be some notable absentees with the top four in the world all missing the event, Tiger Woods due to his continuing rehabilitation from injury and Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington through choice.

However, seven of the world's top 15 players will be competing over Kapalua's hilly Plantation Course including Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas, Ernie Els, Anthony Kim and Adam Scott.

Australian Scott admits playing in Hawaii is always a welcome bonus and is determined to get his season off on the right foot.

"It's great to start in Maui because it means you've won an event the year before," stated the 28-year-old who has recently overcame a knee injury sustained whilst surfing.

"You can get your year off to a fast start with a good week here, so that's really the goal. I'm just looking forward to playing again. It's been a while.

"It's nice and relaxed here. It's a small field and it's Hawaii, which is obviously great.

"But all of us come here with a purpose, just like every other week, and that's to win. So you want to hit the ground running. I'm definitely looking for a big week here."

Kim, Villegas excited

Kim also expressed his delight at the chance to participate at the event, declaring: "I've been looking forward to this tournament for a long time. I feel like I've come a long way with my game and my attitude.

"If I can just keep my head down and stay focused, I'm going to be in good shape for this year."

Like the American, Villegas also enjoyed two victories last year, the Colombian breaking his duck in some style with big wins at the BMW Championship and then the Tour Championship.

Now at number seven in the world, many observers feel the Colombian could scale even greater heights in 2009, but Villegas - who turned 27 on Wednesday - is remaining grounded ahead of the new campaign.

"I feel good, I feel confident and I'm excited but I have some work to do in 2009," he said. "I accomplished a lot of my own personal goals last year but every Thursday we start from zero."

Swede Daniel Chopra returns to defend the title he won 12 months ago following a play-off with Steve Stricker.