Golf fans did not have to wait long for the duel that is causing so much anticipation in 2016. Jason Day versus Jordan Spieth is on from Thursday in Hawaii, and it is a world heavyweight championship rematch.
Spieth, the world No. 1 and Day, the world No. 2, are teeing it up in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, a 32-player event for tournament winners from the previous season, at the beautiful Plantation Course at Kapalua on the island of Maui.
Day has not played anywhere since the Presidents Cup in South Korea in October, declining Tiger Woods' tournament in the Bahamas and the Emirates Australian Open late in the year so that he could spend time with his wife Ellie, and their new-born daughter Lucy.
But the 28-year-old Australian will be well-rested and keen to pick up from the 2015 form where he won five times, including four of his past six starts, secured his first major — the US PGA Championship — and climbed to world No. 1 for the first time.
Spieth, who conjured an even better year, overhauled Day to win the Fedex Cup, the season-long points race on the US PGA Tour, at Atlanta in September, and along with Rory McIlroy (who is not playing this week) and American Rickie Fowler (who is) they represent the exciting bunch of younger men who have taken the mantle held for so long by the ailing Tiger Woods.
Day finished tied-third at Kapalua last year, flying home with a course record-equalling 61 on the final day.
Steven Bowditch is the other Australian in a field that is strong, including Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson from the top 10 on the world rankings.