Welcome to the Total Recall Invitational, otherwise known as the Buick Championship.

Returning to the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., the Buick Championship is the place where former PGA TOUR champions turn back the clock and remember how to get it in the house.

The last three winners of this storied event, begun in 1952, ended lengthy victory droughts, starting with Peter Jacobsen’s triumph in 2003. Jake floundered for eight-plus years, since the 1995 Buick Invitational of California before his Dorian Gray trick. What’s more, Jacobsen won his second title at Hartford 19 years after his first.

Woody Austin, the 2004 champ, also had last won in 1995, the Buick Open, a title gap stretching back more than nine years.

Brad Faxon’s ’05 victory ended a more modest stretch of frustration lasting four years and eight months.

Interestingly, the sponsor is getting lots of bang for his buck of late, too. The last five winners, including Phil Mickelson in 2001 and ’02, had previously won a Buick-sponsored tournament.

Last year: A final-round 9-under-par 61, which tied the course record at the TPC River Highlands, and a three-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff lifted local favorite Brad Faxon to his eighth PGA TOUR title and his first since 2001 after he made the cut on the number. Overcoming a seven-stroke deficit, Faxon beat South Africa’s Tjaart van der Walt, who birdied the last two holes for a 64. They finished regulation at 14-under 266.

How he did it: Fairly cleanly. Score over par on only four holes for the week and you’re going to be in contention, especially if you putt the way Faxon does. Playing on a damaged knee that required surgery a few months later, Faxon needed only 48 putts on the weekend, and coupled with a steady number of greens in regulation, he couldn’t be stopped.

Strange but true: The last 14 winners of the Masters have come from the final group, including Phil Mickelson this year, but the last two winners of the U.S. Open have come from an earlier pairing.

True but not so strange: Playing in front of partisan fans can be difficult. Faxon’s win last year represented just his third top-10 finish in the Buick Championship in 22 tries.

Leonard is looking to win his first PGA TOUR title of 2006. (Condon/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

If the course could talk: “Remember the Golden Rule and beware of the Golden Triangle.”

Worth knowing:

• The University of Hartford trio of Jerry Kelly, Tim Petrovic and Patrick Sheehan are all back for the Buick Championship this year. They finished seventh, 31st and 42nd, respectively, in 2005, the first time all three had made the cut.

• The veteran contingent obviously loves TPC River Highlands, not only because of recent victories, but also for the boost in scoring morale. There have been 14 rounds of 63 or better in the last three years, including seven in ’05 alone. Players over 40 carded seven of those 13, including 61 by Brad Faxon, 62 by Joey Sindelar, and 63 by Kenny Perry last year. The others: Jeff Sluman and Corey Pavin (62) and Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen (63).

• John Engler, who survived a horrific car crash in 2003, nearly severing his foot, made his second cut of the year at the Booz Allen Classic just days after signing an endorsement deal with E-Z-GO golf car, which is based on Engler’s hometown of Augusta, Ga.

• The eighth-place finish for Pavin in ’05 was his second straight top-10 performance at the Buick Championship, and his fifth in 13 starts. He also has finished second, third and fourth.

• Sindelar makes his 23rd Buick Championship start, which ties Faxon for most in the field. He has two top-10 finishes, one fewer than Faxon.

• Looking to reignite a little scoring magic, Perry has switched to a TaylorMade Rossa Sienna putter. Perry has six top-10s in 17 starts at the Buick Championship. His last four finishes: fourth, seventh, 13th and seventh.

• A 36-hole leader/co-leader has gone on to victory 19 times in 54 years at the Buick Championship, including four of the last 10.

TOUR Insider’s strength of field index: Looks like all of the shot-makers have come out. 7.3.

TI’s power ranking for the Buick Championship: 1. Justin Leonard, 2. Woody Austin, 3. Trevor Immelman, 4. Justin Rose, 5. Corey Pavin.

Parting shot: “Everybody has the same opportunity from the start of the year. If you play good golf, it takes care of itself. Work harder, play better; all those opportunities are there the same as they are for Tiger Woods. If you are one of those guys that feel like you're owed something, the only thing you owe is to yourself to work harder.” -- PGA TOUR veteran Steve Flesch on how the new FedExCup system could affect certain players.