BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Last year, Brad Bryant did what no other player had done before -- winning back-to-back titles at the Regions Charity Classic. While Bryant pulled out a two-stroke victory at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge in 2006, he had to work a little harder last year. Bryant overcame a five-stroke deficit in the final round by shooting a 65, and won the playoff against R.W. Eaks on the third extra hole when he made a 12-foot birdie putt.

The Regions Charity Classic always attracts a strong contingent of sports celebrities, who will be playing in the pro-ams on Wednesday and Thursday.

History has shown that it's important to get off to a strong start in this event. Since its inception in 1992, no tournament winner has posted a score higher than 70 in the opening round, and 12 of the 16 winners had first-round scores in the 60s. Seven winners have put together three consecutive sub-70 rounds, including four of the last five champions (Brad Bryant opened with a 70 last year). George Archer was the only winner to record an over-par score during the tournament, closing with 2-over 74 at the inaugural event in 1992.

In the previous 16 events, seven players who have led or been tied for the lead after 36 holes have gone on to win the tournament. From 1995-2001, it only happened in odd years: Graham Marsh (1995), Jay Sigel (1997), Larry Nelson (1999) and Hale Irwin (2001). George Archer (1992), Bruce Fleisher (2004) and D.A. Weibring (2005) were the others.

In the previous 16 tournaments, only five players posted a top-10 finish in their previous starts. However, since 1995, only two players -- Bruce Fleisher (tied for fourth) and Hale Irwin (tied for second) -- were top-10 finishers in the event leading up to the Regions Charity Classic. Last year's winner, Brad Bryant, tied for 22nd in his previous start. Bob Murphy also placed second in his previous event in 1993, but that came three weeks prior to his win in Birmingham.

When he won the 2006 Regions Charity Classic, Brad Bryant set a new Champions Tour standard by hitting 53 of 54 greens in regulation, breaking the old mark of 51 of 54 by three players: Jay Sigel (1994 Northville Long Island Classic), John Paul Cain (1994 Ameritech Senior Open) and Lee Trevino (1995 Brickyard Crossing Championship).

Bryant's only miss came on No. 10 in the second round. Bryant also played bogey-free golf and became the 18th player to go bogey free in a Champions Tour event and the second in the tournament. George Archer played bogey free in 1994 but finished fourth.

Dana Quigley tied the Champions Tour's all-time record for consecutive birdies when he made eight in a row in the opening round in 2005 at Greystone Golf and Country Club. Quigley birdied Nos. 10-17 before the streak ended with a three-putt on the final hole. Quigley's run tied the record originally set by Chi Chi Rodriguez at the 1987 Silver Pages Classic near Oklahoma City.

Jim Colbert later matched the record at the 2000 TD Waterhouse Championship in Kansas City and Joe Ozaki matched it at the Ford Senior Players Championship. Of the four players, only Rodriguez won the tournament. Colbert finished third at the TD Waterhouse event, Quigley finished fifth in 2005 in Birmingham and Ozaki tied for 17th.

Hale Irwin has more top-10 finishes in this event than any other player (eight), while Mark McNulty's 22 birdies in 2006 remain the most in event history. Dana Quigley had 21 in 2002.

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