Steve Stricker is confident that he is over his injury problems of 2011 as he prepares to launch his new season in Hawaii.

Having won twice on the PGA Tour in the first half of last year, Stricker failed to register a single top-ten finish in the final five months of the campaign after being hampered by neck and shoulder problems.

But the world number six has undergone intensive physiotherapy and two cortisone injections during the off-season and revealed he is fit and raring to go for the first event of the year, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Stricker is 15/2 to win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions while Nick Watney can be backed at 9/1, Bubba Watson at 16/1 and Lucas Glover at 30/1.

Speaking about his injury situation, Stricker said: "It's been real good. I've been doing some physical therapy at home, mainly massage treatments, pressure treatments.

"I did about six of those in a two-week period leading up to Christmas, and then continued that over here. I got another cortisone shot and I think that, too, has helped a lot. It feels pretty good.

"I feel like I'm hitting a little bit further. If you look at the way I felt a year ago compared to now, I'm in much better shape."

Stricker is the highest-ranked player in the 28-man field at the Kapalua Resort and is optimistic about adding to his 11 PGA Tour titles over the next 12 months.

The American will turn 45 next month but has few worries about age preventing from challenging for honours this season.

He added: "Yeah. I turn 45 next month, so I think about it. But I also think about that I've played so well over the last six years that there's no reason that I can't continue to keep playing well. I'm not seeing any real changes in my game, and that's the nice part.

"I'm not hitting it shorter this year. I actually feel like I'm hitting a little bit longer. So I keep telling myself there's no reason why I can't continue on to do what I've been doing."

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