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There are certainly worse ways to start the 2017 golf calendar than with a Hideki Matsuyama-Justin Thomas showdown at the Tournament of Champions on Sunday. Thomas and Matsuyama are chasing their ages this week in Kapalua. Thomas (age 23) is 18 under through three rounds with three straight 67s. Matsuyama (age 24) is 16 under through three rounds and the only golfer within three of Thomas.

These two young stars make up a healthy chunk of a new wave looking to really solidify itself atop the PGA Tour this season. Throw in guys like Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger and Bryson DeChambeau, and you're looking at the future of golf on this tour. To get a shootout between these two so early in the season is a delight.

It's not a surprise, though. Matsuyama has won in four of his last five starts worldwide including the HSBC Champions in China in November. Thomas is coming off his second consecutive win at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia (also back in November) where he beat ... Matsuyama.

"If I'm near Hideki in the tournament, that's usually probably a pretty good thing on Sunday," said Thomas after his round. "He's obviously a tremendous player and he's on an unbelievable run here the last five events. I actually had no idea I was the only one to beat him -- until I saw Doug tweeted or something -- that I was the only person that beat him in the last five events, which is absurd.

"The fact that he's won four of his last five. Yeah, it's good, and he's a great player but there's a lot of other great players out there. I just need to go take care of my job."

Thomas is poised to enter the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He currently sits at No. 22. Matsuyama is closing in on the top five -- he currently sits at No. 6. It should be a sweet slugfest between two of the best ball-strikers in the game today.

Thomas stayed consistent on Saturday with that third-straight 67. He leads the field in strokes gained off the tee this week, and it's not difficult to see why. This has set up his 18 birdies and an eagle at the par-73 course.

Matsuyama, on the other hand, has putted out of his mind. He is fourth in the field this week in putting. If he's ever anywhere near the top 10, you know he's likely contending in the event with the way he strikes it.

"I do have a lot of confidence right now, and confidence going into tomorrow's round," said Matsuyama after shooting a Saturday-best 66. "There's still a few weak links that I need to work on. Hopefully that won't be a bother tomorrow and we'll play well."

They have both played better than the rest of this small field of 32, which includes stars like Dustin Johnson (11 under), Jordan Spieth (8 under) and Jason Day (10 under). Thomas and Matsuyama probably don't belong in that crowd quite yet, but they certainly aren't too far away. A win on Sunday would be a step up before major season which is still three months away.

"Justin doesn't have any weaknesses at all in his game," added Matsuyama. "He hits it long, has a marvelous short game, putts well, hits the ball well. We've got to go low tomorrow to be able to catch him."

He will need a great one, and he knows it. Thomas knows it, too. Everybody knows it. The great thing is that Matsuyama is more than capable. And Thomas could also blow him right out into the Pacific Ocean with another smoking hot start in the final round.

"He's also obviously learned how to win and close tournaments out," said Thomas' pal Spieth on Saturday. "He's the only guy who beat Hideki all fall. He was beating the hottest player in golf at his hottest time, so he's certainly not scared of that."