There’s nowhere on the Sony Open in Hawaii leaderboard for the highest-ranked golfer in the field to hide.

Of the 18 players within four shots of the lead at 12 under, only one has a chance to pull off the rare Hawaii sweep.

All eyes will be on world No. 5 Steve Stricker today as he tries to become the first golfer to win at both Kapalua and Waialae in the same year since Ernie Els pulled off the feat in 2003.

Stricker fired a 3-under 67 on Saturday — his seventh consecutive round in the 60s to start 2012 — to put himself in position to contend at the Sony yet again.

Although he’s never won here, Stricker has finished in the top 10 in four out of five years since making this a regular stop on the PGA Tour.

The shots back aren’t as big of a problem as all the golfers Stricker will have to leapfrog.

Seven sit at 9 under or better entering today and he’s tied with 10 others, four back of the lead shared by Jeff Maggert and Matt Every.

"Who knows (how many in front) by the end of day, but I’ve just got to keep hanging in there," said Stricker, who posted his score before many of the leaders finished. "Keep doing the things I did last week and hopefully hit it better tomorrow than what I did today."

Stricker ended an 0-for-17 drought in Hawaii, beginning the week with a win at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Maui.

The tournament was held Friday through Monday for the first time in its 13-year history in Hawaii, giving him just two days to rest.

The short turnaround had an effect on Saturday as Stricker felt the physical toll.

"I hung in mentally … my body felt tired today," Stricker said.

"Early in the season I guess."

Age has yet to be an issue for the 44-year-old from Madison, Wis., whose eight wins are more than anyone else on tour since 2009.

Stricker battled a Waialae course he called "tricky" on Saturday, finishing with four birdies and a lone bogey on No. 6.

He closed with a birdie on No. 18 after his approach landed near the grandstands and he was awarded a free drop.

He cooly landed his chip within 3 feet of the hole and rolled in the birdie putt to post a solid score despite hitting just three of 14 fairways.

"It’s tough to get the ball in the fairway this year," he said.

"The ball is really running away from you and I’ve hit a bunch of drives where you think you’re going to be in the fairway and you end up in the rough or the first cut.

"Felt really sluggish out there, but you have days like that whether you’re coming off a win or not," he added.

"Days like this when you can salvage a round … it means a lot because when you do have your best, you can move up because of this round today."

If Stricker can continue his recent trend of Sunday performances, victory could be within reach.

He’s closed with his best rounds of the week — a 66 last year and a 65 in 2010 — on the final day and has now shot 14 consecutive rounds at Waialae under par.

He will tee off at 12:15 p.m. and is grouped with Canadian Stephen Ames.