Players to watch at the Sony Open

The first full event field of the 2012 PGA Tour season tees off this week, on yet another picture perfect Hawaiian back drop at the beautiful Waialae Country Club in Honolulu for the Sony Open.

With the great finish we saw at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where Steve Stricker held off all-comers to win his 12th event by three strokes. PGA Tour fans are ready for a full event field.

We saw many good scores in the final round of the event in Maui, which leads us to look at the players you may want to keep an eye on this week at the Sony Open.

Steve Stricker

It's tough not to pick this guy to play well after witnessing what he did just a few short days ago at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Stricker was in the top three for the event in Strokes Gained Putting, Putts Per Round and Putts Per Green in Regulation.

All very important stats at the Waialae course as it checked in at T21 in 2011 in Strokes Gained Putting for the PGA Tour.

K.J. Choi

Maybe a surprise to some to see his name on the list to watch out for at the Sony Open. Though you have to remember, Choi did win this event in 2008.

Last week in Maui, the 2011 PLAYERS Champion posted a final round eight-under 65, to close in a tie for fifth.

Choi has nothing flashy in his bag, but is as solid as they come from tee to green and can sneak up on the leaders if they are not careful. Look for him to be in contention come Sunday.

Webb Simpson

Another name that is hard to not list on a players watch for any tournament.

Simpson gave Stricker all he could handle at the Tournament of Champions last week, he just didn't have enough to get closer than four strokes in the end to finish in a tie for third.

He played the entire event very steady with no peaks or valleys to speak of posting rounds of 68, 68, 69 and 68 en route to his 19-under final score.

Simpson was also in the top-10 in putting stats for the week in Maui as well.

Kevin Na

Yes, the same guy that dropped a 16 on one hole in 2011 is on this list of players to watch for at the Sony Open.

Na had just an 'ok' week in Maui at the Tournament of Champions, where he finished in tie for 12th, at 12-under par.

Though he showed that he can go deep, posting a nine-under 64, in the second round of the event.

So there you have it. A few players to watch for as the 2012 PGA Tour season has it's first full event field of the season.

Defending champion Mark Wilson will have his hands full in defense of his title, at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.