Out of the Rough: Regionals Tradition (2026)

Just two weeks removed from the first major of the season in the Senior PGA Championship, the PGA Tour Champions takes on the second major of the season this week.

Regions Tradition, also known as The Tradition, takes center stage as 78 of the world’s best senior golfers take to the Founders Course at the Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama this week. The Founders Course has played host since 2016.

This event was first played in 1989, making this year the 37th playing of the event.

Although the Regions Tradition is classified as a major for the PGA Tour Champions, unlike the U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Championship and Senior Open Championship, it is not by the European Senior Tour.

It is also the only major where the winner does not earn an exemption into a PGA Tour or DP World Tour Event as well.

The Field

Being a major, all of the world’s best will be in attendance this week.

Defending Senior PGA Champion Stewart Cink helps headline this week’s field.

Former Masters Tournament champion and James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational winner this season Zach Johnson is the most notable absentee this week. 

Additionally, three time Regions Tradition champion Steve Stricker will not be playing this week as well.

Other notable names playing this week include Reetief Goosen, Steven Alker, David Toms, Ben Crane, Padraig Harrington, Steve Allan, Ernie Els and George McNeill.

Angel Cabrera comes into this week as the defending champion, topping Jerry Kelly by a stroke a season ago. 

Other former winners of this event playing this week include Doug Barron (2024,) Alex Cejka (2021,) Miguel Angel Jimenez (2018,) Bernhard Langer (2017 & 2016,) Jeff Maggert (2015,) Kenny Perry (2014) and Fred Funk (2010 & 2008.)

The Course

The Founders Course at the Greystone Golf & Country Club is a Bob Cupp design and opened in 1991.

It plays as a par-72 at roughly 2,270 yards.

The course winds through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, offering a picturesque backdrop to the golf course.

Meandering creeks along \appear throughout the course, offering a line of defense on several holes.

Additionally, a total of seven ponds and numerous wetlands are present at this venue.

Over 80 sand bunkers are littered throughout, both in the fairways and greenside.

The fairways are tree-lined and laid in bermuda.

The greens here at the Founders Course are its claim to fame. They are immaculately maintained, fast, smooth and consistent. The greens are laid in bentgrass.

These greens also take precise iron shots and accurate readings to both hold and to attack the pin.

The Weather

As of the time of writing this, Thursday calls for a five-percent chance of precipitation. From there, Friday is calling for a 60-percent chance of evening rain showers and Saturday is calling for a 50-percent chance of am rain showers. Sunday calls for just a five-percent chance as well. Winds will begin the week at nine miles-per-hour before dipping to seven miles-per-hour on Friday. Winds will peak at 11 miles-per-hour on Saturday before finishing the week at seven miles-per-hour on Sunday. Temperatures will begin the week at 72 degrees before dipping to 67 degrees on Friday. Saturday is calling for 69-degrees and Sunday is set to be the warmest day of the week at 73-degrees.

Key Stats

• Total Driving (75-percent Driving Distance / 25-percent Driving Accuracy)

• Ball Striking

• Scrambling

• Putting Average

• Par-Five Average Scoring

• Birdie-or-Better Percentage

Betting Card

Ernie Els (+1400)

It’s hard not to drift towards Els this week. He loves this golf course and event. Over the past four seasons he placed T19th in 2025, third in 2024, second in 2023 and 11th in 2022. He comes into the week in great form. He placed tenth last week at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Prior to that, he placed 27th at the Senior PGA Championship, second at the Hoag Classic, 21st at the Cologuard Classic and fourth at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. He is currently first on Tour in putting average, second in total driving, third in birdie-or-better percentage, seventh in scrambling, eighth in GIR% and 14th in par-five average scoring. 

Y.E. Yang (+4000)

Yang wasn’t his best at the Senior PGA Championship two weeks back as he placed 59th. However, he bounced back with a tenth place finish last week at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. He also placed 14th at the Hoag Classic and 15th at the Cologuard Classic prior to the Senior PGA Championship. He also placed third at this event a season ago. He also placed 22nd in 2024 and 59th in 2023. Yang is currently ninth on Tour in scrambling, 16th in both putting average and par-five average scoring, 20th in birdie-or-better percentage, 23rd in GIR% and 26th in total driving. 

Richard Green (+7000)

Not to Els’ level, but Green also has a great course history here. He placed T16th in 2025, T14th in 2024 and T11th in 2023. If that doesn’t go to show that his game fits this course, he is currently sixth on Tour in greens in regulation percentage, 13th in par-five average scoring, 16th in birdie-or-better percentage, 20th in total driving, 21st in putting average and 43rd in scrambling. Green placed 31st last week at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, 41st at the Senior PGA Championship and tenth at the cologuard classic.