US Tour:Former European Open champion Kenneth Ferrie starts his new career on the US Tour in Hawaii today, and does so alongside an American who, for a very different reason, is just as excited to be at the Sony Open.
Todd Demsey, a former college team-mate of Phil Mickelson, is back as a member of the circuit for the first time since 1997 and five years after a second operation to remove a benign brain tumour.
Left alone, the tumour could have been fatal, and he was told there was still a chance of dying during the operation or of him coming out of it paralysed.
"Any time you open the skull it's risky," said Demsey. "I was obviously scared, but I was more concerned for my family than myself.
"I was worried when I went to hit balls the first time afterwards - it hurt my head."
He was back playing on the Nationwide Tour later the same year, but it was not until a closing 64 at last month's qualifying school that he earned the chance to play the main circuit again.
Demsey finished eighth while Ferrie was 14th, which was arguably his best, and certainly his most important, performance of a year that saw him crash to a lowly 167th on the European Order of Merit.
That was shocking for a player good enough to have finished 11th in 2005 and to have shared the lead with Mickelson with a round to go in the 2006 US Open.
"I've never felt this good about a new year," the Englishman said. "Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach, Muirfield Village, Sawgrass - I would be excited to play those venues if they weren't staging a tournament.
"But when you add in the crowds and the millions of dollars, to an ordinary guy from Northumberland it sounds like heaven."
Meanwhile, Ernie Els has organised his schedule this year to give him the best chance of adding to his three major titles.
Having built his reputation on playing all over the world in many varied tournaments, Els said he was trying to concentrate on peaking for the big events.
Referring to his schedule, he said on his website, ernieels.com: "It looks a little different to previous years. This reflects my desire to try to gear my game around the majors and the other big tournaments.
"To be honest, I think there were maybe times in the past when I've tried to please too many people.
"Not now. I'm 38 and I need to think about me and how I can give myself the best chance to add to the three majors that I've already won.
"The biggest single goal that I have left in this game is to win the career grand slam before I'm done. It's important I do everything in my power to make that goal achievable."
Vital Statistics
Venue:Waialae CC, Honolulu, HI
Prize money:$5.3 million (€3.6m), $950,000 (€650,000) to the winner
Length:7.044 yards. Par: 70
Course characteristics:Ranked 24th most difficult for all courses played on tour in 2007, with an average score of 0.271 over par. The longest hole is the 551-yard par five 18th. The longest par four is the 480-yard opening hole; the longest par three is the 204-yard fourth. There are only two par fives, and the shortest par four is the 351-yard 10th.
Defending champion:Paul Goydos
On TV:Setanta Golf, midnight-3.30
Weather forecast:Clear skies, 250
