Many eyes will be on Rickie Fowler as he prepares to get his rookie PGA Tour season underway at the Sony Open.

High expectations rest on the shoulders of the Titleist Pro V1x golf ball user, as he is widely considered to have the talent to be the new young pretender in the game.

The 21-year-old joined the pro ranks late last year and almost picked up a maiden victory at the Frys.com Open, when coming up short with his Titleist 909D2 golf driver in a three-way play-off to Troy Matteson.

After a short Christmas break, Fowler is ready to make his ninth PGA Tour start in Hawaii, in what will be the first full-field event of the year.

He said: "I mean, there is the pressure, but I've had to deal with that with a little bit of junior and amateur golf. And then with the expectations that came with that, I think that's helped me to deal with them how I did.

"I'm looking forward to getting a full year and not having to worry about getting spots or anything like that. I'm guaranteed into most tournaments."

However, the odds do not favour a Fowler victory in the Sony Open, as there has not been a winner under the age of 30 since 1997.

Zach Johnson, who also uses Titleist golf balls, reigned supreme at the Waialae Country Club 12 months ago and returns to defend his title.

Ernie Els, who plays with Callaway golf equipment, is another former winner of the event looking to get his 2010 season off to a strong start on the course known for its narrow fairways.

Elsewhere, South Africa will be hosting a fourth successive European Tour event as Anders Hansen returns to Johannesburg in a bid to defend his Joberg Open crown.

He defeated Andrew McLardy by a single shot a year ago and went on to enjoy a solid season with his golf irons, emerging victorious in the Sunshine Tour's Order of Merit.

The Dane has also begun the 2010 European Tour season smartly with successive top-three finishes in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open Championship and is looking to continue this form at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

He told the European Tour website: "It's been difficult preparing because I've come here from home where we have three feet of snow.

"But this season I just want to try to carry on from last season. There are a couple of things I need to work on, to improve, so I'll be trying to do that at the same time as keeping the momentum going."

Nike golf driver user Charl Schwartzel leads the home charge after his triumph in the latest event on the circuit at the Africa Open.

Meanwhile, Chris Wood and Edoardo Molinari are other players with the tools to feature, while Darren Clarke and Soren Hansen will be looking towards their vast experience to make a challenge at the head of the leaderboard.

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