With Rickie Fowler closing in, Jason Day is itching to get back into competition and resume his push up golf's world rankings this week.
Day was unable to defend his US PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines the way he would have liked last month due to a viral infection, the latest in a litany of injury or illness issues that have plagued his career.
In his only start so far this year he suffered his first missed cut since June last year - just his fourth missed cut in three and a half years.
But Day says he's raring to go again at the Pebble Beach tournament, where he tied fourth a year ago.
"The important thing is I'm healthier now and ready to move on," Day said.
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"I'm ready to get into my season proper and build on everything we did last year."
Day has dropped a spot down to world No.3 in the rankings behind Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy and American Fowler is pulling closer behind him at No.4 after following a European tour win last month with a second place after losing a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama at the Phoenix Open on Sunday.
"You know those guys are going to continue to play well and it just drives me to do the same and be better, work harder, and be ready for the fight," said Day.
"I'm hoping for a good week this week to be back amongst it all."
World No.1 Spieth is in the field at Pebble Beach.
The tournament also beings the second professional start for 17-year-old Australian Ryan Ruffels who is looking to build on his tie for 43rd at Torrey Pines.
The youngster earned 26 non-member FedEx Cup points as he strives to get past his first goal of gaining 361 points in his allowable seven US tour starts.
Should he do so, he will be eligible to take up further starts and try to match the points earned by those who make the playoffs this year.
If he can do so Ruffels will earn his way officially onto the tour for the 2016-17 season.
Making up the rest of a strong Australian tilt this week are Aaron Baddeley, Steven Bowditch, Rhein Gibson, Jarrod Lyle, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, Cameron Smith and Australian Open champion Matt Jones, who was in the final group on Sunday last year only to fade to a tie for seventh.
