Poulter set for Kapulua

Last updated: 2nd January 2013

Ian Poulter is the first of Europe's Ryder Cup heroes to return to action in 2013 at this week's Tournament of Champions.

Poulter will play in this week's Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, the season-opener on the PGA Tour, which features a 30-strong field of PGA Tour winners from last year.

But that will be the Englishman's only competitive tournament until February 20, when he will return for the first round of the Accenture Match Play in Arizona.

The Ryder cup star wants to have a "nice easy schedule" at the start of the year, and will in fact play only four tournaments in all before the Masters in April.

"I wouldn't be picking me in any fantasy pick or bet this week even with my own money. Slapping it," the 36-year-old wrote on Twitter. "It's been a good Christmas."

Nine of the beaten American Ryder Cup side at Medinah last September - all but Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk - will also be in Hawaii.

Furyk was not eligible, while Mickelson and Woods turned down their places just like Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia.

Steve Stricker is the defending champion after winning the title by three shots from Scot Martin Laird 12 months ago.

Woods and McIlroy both start their years at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in two weeks' time.