Alex Cejka was sitting over a putt, with the chance to win the Senior British Open. But he didn’t take it for granted. Cejka, who had been hampered by the wind and rain at Royal Porthcawl golf club for several hours, thought this was an easy shot.
Cejka, for example, saw Padraig Harrington fumble a chip just off the green at the crucial hole. Cejka watched as players and fans tried to stay steady in the extreme winds along the Bristol Channel shores.
Cejka, however, took a second look at the putt, and hit it. He won his third PGA Tour Champions championship — all majors, when he beat Harrington with a birdie shot on the 2nd hole of a play-off.
The 52-year old German, who won both the Regions Tradition Senior PGA Championship and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship 2021, realized that this victory was about as much perseverance as it is shotmaking.
“I can’t believe what I just heard. The two extra holes made today’s day really, truly long. It had been a long, long week. But I’m just delighted. Cejka stated, “I didn’t make any great shots in the final stretch, but I managed to par.” “I thought I had a shot against Padraig if I could pull off a few good swings in the playoff. It’s a one-on-one match, so it’s really hard. I’m thrilled. “I still can’t believe that it.”
Alex Cejka’s winning moment in Wales pic.twitter.com/f41zrue1mH
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Cejka won the tournament, but the weather was the true story. It caused many players to have fits. Colin Montgomerie ended the day on 88. However, that wasn’t the highest score for the day. That honor went to Patrik Sjoland who scored an 89.
On Sunday, 26 players had scores of 80 and above. Rob Labritz scored 71. This was the lowest score of the day. However, it came after a round three 86.
Cejka shot 76 and had two bogeys in the last three holes. This put him into a playoff with Harrington. Harrington needed to birdie the final hole for the extra round of golf. The Irishman’s 20-foot eagle would have won him the tournament at No. The ball stopped just short of the hole after rolling into heavy winds.
You have to seize these opportunities. Harrington stated that you have to give them a real try. “I will look back and feel that I should have ran that.” The one on the first hole of the playoffs could have also gone in, but it would have been an excellent break.
Sometimes I hit a 9-iron on the second attempt. I was trying to hit a 34 9-iron and got over the ball. You were focused on the shot, so you ended up hitting a regular 9-iron. “That was disappointing at the end.”
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Cejka stated that the conditions were merely a war of attrition.
“It’s brutal. “You can’t keep your balance, not even when you are putting and trying to punch the drivers,” said he. “You’ve got wet hands and wet grips.” As you can see from the scores, it was not easy because of a crosswind at 40 miles per hour. The last two days were brutal. “I’m so happy it’s all over and I am glad I have my trophy.”
