PGA TOUR ChampionsLeaderboardWatch + ListenNewsSchwab CupSchedulePlayersStatsTicketsShopPGA TOURPGA TOUR ChampionsKorn Ferry TourPGA TOUR AmericasLPGA TOURDP World TourPGA TOUR University
Archive

Power Rankings: Regions Tradition

2 Min Read

Power Rankings

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - MAY 01: Steve Stricker of the United States celebrates after putting on the first hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Golf Club on May 01, 2022 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS - MAY 01: Steve Stricker of the United States celebrates after putting on the first hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Golf Club on May 01, 2022 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)



    Written by Mike Glasscott @MikeGlasscott

    The first major of the season on PGA TOUR Champions returns to Greystone Golf & Country Club outside Birmingham.

    The Regions Tradition, established as a major championship in 1989, will be played at the Founders Course for the sixth time since 2016 (no event in 2020). Alex Cejka, who defeated Steve Stricker in a playoff last year, returns and will lead the field of 78 players in the first of five majors on the annual schedule.

    On the line is a purse of $2.5 million, with the winner taking home $375,000 plus a five-year exemption into the Regions Tradition.


    POWER RANKINGS

    RANKPLAYERCOMMENT

    Just missed: Darren Clarke, Lee Janzen, Billy Andrade, Paul Broadhurst

    Greystone Golf and Country Club

    Yards (per official scorecard):7,249
    Par:72 (36-36)
    Greens:Champions Bermuda; 6,400 square feet on average.
    Stimpmeter:Tournament Speed.
    Rough:Tifway Bermudagrass at 2 inches.
    Bunkers/Water Hazards41/20 (water in play on 11 holes).
    Architects:Bob Cupp (1991).
    Defending Champion:Alex Cejka (-18; 268; playoff)
    Tournament Course Record (entered this week):64; Robert Karlsson (2021); Steve Stricker, Glen Day (2019); Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jeff Maggert (2018); Bernhard Langer (2017; not entered in 2022).
    Tournament Scoring Record:268 (-20); Bernhard Langer (2017; not entered in 2022).
    Fact of the Week:No cut; four rounds of competition this week beginning on THURSDAY.
    Fact of the Week II:Bernhard Langer is the only multiple winner, as he defended his 2016 title in 2017.

    The first of back-to-back major championship events on PGA TOUR Champions kicks off Thursday outside Birmingham.

    The event moved to the Founders Course in 2016 after five years up the street at Shoal Creek (2011).

    Bob Cupp's par-72 will stretch almost 7,300 yards and will be the longest track on the scorecard of the season to this point.

    Over the last five events here, the 2018 edition ranked the easiest of the quintet, checking in at almost a full shot under par (71.017). The most difficult was the 2021 event, as the course played a full shot over par (73.109) for the only time in five events.

    Last year, the first two rounds were greeted by chilly northerly breezes and wet conditions (lift, clean and place), which turned a long course even longer. The four 36-hole leaders posted just 7-under before the wind shifted to prevailing breezes on the weekend, temperatures warmed and birdies returned.

    Cejka's victory last year was remarkable in a few different departments. He was making just his third start on PGA TOUR Champions. His first two starts, he entered as a Monday qualifier. He began the week at the Regions Tradition as first alternate and gained access after Jay Haas withdrew. Besting defending champion (from 2019; no event in 2020) Steve Stricker in a playoff capped off a dream week.

    There's not a ton of room to swing it off the tee, but just 2 inches of rough will make recovery shots possible. Past champions here have excelled in the ball striking component and have ridden hot putters to the title. Although the scoring average suggests 68 or better daily, grinding out pars is also paramount. Rounds in the 60s have been difficult to come by on the weekend over the last two years. No winner here has carded more than four bogeys, one per round on average, for the week. The average margin of victory in the previous four events at Greystone was five shots.


    Previous Winners

    * playoff

    YearWinnerScoreComment
    2021Alex Cejka-18*Won in his third event on PGA TOUR Champions as he beat Stricker on the first playoff hole.
    2020No Event
    2019Steve Stricker-18Made ONE bogey for the week and won by six shots.
    2018Miguel Angel Jimenez-19Circled 23 birdies, most on the week, to win by three.
    2017Bernhard Langer-20Set the tournament scoring record in his defense; won by five.
    2016Bernhard Langer-17Won the first event at Greystone by six shots.

    If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me at mikeglasscott@gmail.com.

    PGA TOUR Champions
    Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceAccessibility StatementDo Not Sell or Share My Personal InformationCookie ChoicesSitemap

    Copyright © 2024 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved.

    PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. The Korn Ferry trademark is also a registered trademark, and is used in the Korn Ferry Tour logo with permission.