Appleby beat Vijay Singh in a play-off in Hawaii last year

The Australian beat Vijay Singh in a play-off for a rare hat-trick of PGA Tour wins at last year's Mercedes-Benz Championships in Hawaii last year.

The 35-year-old would become the first player since Woods at Bay Hill in 2003 to win an event four years in a row.

"It's about scoring here. You've got to score on the short holes," he said.

World number one Woods, champion at Kapalua in 2000, decided last week to skip the event which brings together all the title-holders from the previous PGA Tour season.

"I considered playing but I just haven't been able to prepare," the 31-year-old American said.

"I usually spend at least one week working on my game before a tournament, and have been unable to do that this year."

It's one of my favourite vacation spots - I enjoy the area and I enjoy the golf course a lot Jim Furyk

Woods, in Colorado for 12 days last month on a skiing holiday with his family and friends, also wants to spend more time with his wife Elin, who is expecting their first child later this year.

Left-hander Mickelson, champion at Kapalua in 1994 and 1998, has not played in the elite-field event since 2001.

Els, winner in 2003, did not qualify for this year after a winless 2006 PGA Tour campaign.

Only eight of the world's top 20 will be present, with other absentees in Hawaii including twice US Open champion Retief Goosen and Irish world number eight Padraig Harrington.

But Appleby will face a strong challenge from players such as Singh, Australian world number four Adam Scott and second-ranked Jim Furyk, the 2001 champion.

606: DEBATE It may not be four in a row for Appleby this time but it could well be four in a row for Australia Golfbug 606: Have your say

Furyk, 36, who has a holiday home on the course, said: "I've played well here in the past with a couple of wins on this course.

"We're all trying, every one of us, to be in this event. But it's extra special. It's one of my favourite vacation spots. I enjoy the area, and I enjoy the golf course a lot."

The tournament, which begins on the par-73 Plantation Course on Thursday, heralds a new era on the PGA Tour.