Keep an eye on these players this week in Hawaii

	Jim Rutledge is a PGA Tour rookie this year ... at age 47. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

No Tiger, no Phil, too much Michelle. That's the reductionist version of this week's Sony Open, but if you look hard enough there are plenty of good stories at this year's first full-field event. Here are the players I'll be keeping an eye in the shadow of Diamond Head:

Anthony Kim

After a stellar career at Oklahoma, the 21-year-old Kim turned pro in August and in his first Tour start, at the Texas Open, all he did was finish tied for second. That top-10 punched his ticket to the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, where he backed up his splashy debut by finishing 16th. Then he roared through all three stages of Q School, cementing his rep as a big-time talent.

At a mere 160 pounds, Kim plays the kind of ball control that should be effective around windy, tricky Waialae Country Club. After taking the golf world by surprise last fall, I'm looking forward to seeing how he holds up following months of publicity.

Jim Rutledge

In case you missed my feature last month in SI, Rutledge is the second-oldest rookie in Tour history, at 47 plus. In three decades as a touring pro he has cut a swath through Asia, Europe and his native Canada, along the way earning the rep as the best player you've never heard of.

I watched Ruts play at the World Cup and I agree with his buddy and former Asian tour roommate Ted Purdy, who says Rutledge has one of the best swings in the world. Sweet guy, too. Considering their diverging fortunes, I wouldn't be surprised if this year Rutledge finishes higher on the money list than his World Cup partner Mike Weir. The guy has serious game.

Vijay Singh

The big Fijian is as streaky as they come, so look for him to take it very deep at the Sony. A double-dip in Hawaii would be a strong statement that Singh has one more great run left in him.

Charles Howell III

With the rise of Geoff Ogilvy, Paul Casey, Adam Scott and Luke Donald, no one even mentions CH3 anymore among the game's top young players. But even though it seems like he's been around forever, Howell is still just 27 and it's not too late for him to realize his considerable potential.

After parting ways with David Leadbetter midway through last season, he showed his first signs of life in years. Reuniting with Lead near year's end has finally convinced Howell to stop his endless tinkering and focus on improving his fundamentals. If Howell can continue to upgrade his play from 100 yards in, he may yet rejoin the conversation.

Paul Stankowski

In the mid- to late-'90s Stanky was one of my favorite players, as he produced birdies and glib asides with equal frequency. In 1996 he won four tournaments across three tours (Nike, PGA, Japan) but most of the 21st century has been lost to a series of devastating wrist injuries.

When Stankowski opened Q School with a 79, it looked like the latest disaster in a hard-luck career, but he battled back to finish 8th and launch himself back on Tour. Here's hoping his 37-year-old body holds up, because Stankowski is a really fun player to watch, and interview.

Bubba Watson

It was at last year's Sony that the legend of Bubba was born. Maybe returning to Waialae will help Watson get his groove back. Here's hoping, anyway. The Tour is a lot more fun when he's in the mix.

Michelle Wie

I pay attention so you don't have to. If she doesn't finish DFL or get carted off in an ambulance, her two-day cameo will be an improvement over anything the Tour saw last year.