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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

Birmingham’s annual golf tradition is just around the corner as the top golfers and notable celebrities will soon descend on Greystone’s Founders Course.

The 2024 edition of the Regions Tradition will be held from May 8-12 at the Greystone Golf and Country Club in Hoover.

The tournament festivities will kick off on Wednesday, May 8 with the ever-popular celebrity pro-am before the stars of the PGA Tour Champions compete for glory and a major championship from May 9-12.

All of the celebrities will play for multiple local causes as the tournament will support Children’s of Alabama, Birdies for Charity and The Mike Slive Foundation.

This year’s edition of the pro-am features some of the biggest names in professional and college sports as well as some of Alabama’s most popular musicians.

The past and present of Alabama football will collide as Nick Saban and new football coach Kalen DeBoer will both compete in the pro-am.

Auburn will be represented by Charles Barkley in addition to a pair of current coaches in Hugh Freeze and Bruce Pearl.

Other notable sports names include Georgia’s Kirby Smart, UAB football coach Trent Dilfer, a pair of former Alabama stars in Greg McElroy and Roman Harper and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum.

A pair of notable political figures will also join the field as former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and U.S. senator Tommy Tuberville will hit the course.

Notable musicians in the field include Randy Owen of Alabama, country music star Riley Green and former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks.

When the tournament action kicks off on Thursday, Steve Stricker will look to defend his trophy from another stacked field of PGA Tour Champions players.

Stricker set a Tradition record in 2023 with a score of 23-under-par, the lowest score to par since the tournament moved to Birmingham in 2021, after shooting 7-under-par on Sunday to break a tie with Robert Karlsson at the start of the final round.

Stricker’s victory was his third Tradition title in four years as he became just the second golfer to win the Tradition at least three times. A win at Greystone this year would tie him with Jack Nicklaus for the most all-time Tradition wins.

Stricker will likely welcome the friendly confines of the Greystone Founders Course as sat in 11th place in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup standings going into the Mitsubishi Electric Classic on April 26.

Steven Alker currently leads the standings with $717,040 in earnings, ahead of Paul Broadhurst and Ricardo Gonzalez in the top three.

Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, John Daly, Miguel Angel Jimenez and David Toms are also expected to compete alongside the top players on the tour.

With the Tradition set as the first of the five PGA Tour Champions majors, players will hope to establish themselves as one of the favorites for the Charles Schwab Cup with a victory at Greystone.

In addition, the Tradition will hold a concert during the tournament, with this year’s edition taking place on Friday instead of Saturday and featuring Black Jacket Symphony.

The concert will be held at the White Claw Watering Hole on hole 10 at 4:30 p.m. on Friday following the conclusion of play. It is free for anyone with a Friday ticket.

The White Claw Watering Hole will also be open to patrons of all ages throughout the week and features the White Claw Wave Bar, Redmont Vodka Lounge, Cutter’s Cigars Lounge and Drip Club IV Therapy. Organizers promise a “lively atmosphere and unique beverage options.”

The all-inclusive Margarita Grill Club is also at the 10th hole and requires an upgraded ticket.

Tickets are on sale now on cuetoems.com/regions_2024/tickets for all days of the tournament and the pro-am.

Adult admission is $30 a day, and kids under 15 and all active and retired military will receive free admission. Free parking and shuttle service is available each day at 2600 Corporate Drive Birmingham, AL 35242.

New this year is the upgraded Casamigos Club tent on the 18th green promising prime viewing angles, upgraded food and exclusive Casamigos craft cocktails for purchase. The club will be open from Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets are $85 per day and include admission to the grounds.

For those who plan to watch from home, Golf Channel and Peacock will show coverage on Thursday and Friday from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.