• Bernhard Langer is looking to win the Mercedes-Benz Championship for a fifth time in his career, having won the event in 1989, 1991, 1997 and 2001. Should be successful this would represent the second European Tour event he has claimed on five occasions, following the German Open. Of his 42 European Tour International Schedule victories, 11 have come on home soil. Another spin-off should he win, would see Langer become the oldest player to win in European Tour history, aged 50 and 20 days, beating the existing record of Des Smyth, who was 48 and 34 days when he won the 2001 Madeira Island Open.
• The Mercedes-Benz Championship has a hugely impressive roll of honour including seven Major Champions, who between them have won 15 Major Championships. They are: Sandy Lyle (1987), José Maria Olazábal (1988), Bernhard Langer (1989, 1991, 1997 and 2001), Seve Ballesteros (1994), Michael Campbell (2000), Padraig Harrington (2004) and Retief Goosen (2005).
When Colin Montgomerie, who won the event in 1998, is included the winners have won a total of 21 European Tour Order of Merit titles between them.
• Retief Goosen, the champion the last time the event was played in 2005 will be trying to create Mercedes-Benz Championship history by becoming the first player to successfully defend their crown.
