Alex Cejka Splashes His Way To Victory At Royal Porthcawl

By Gareth James

Alex Cejka defeated Padraig Harrington at the second play-off hole to win the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

Cejka mixed two birdies with five bogeys and a double-bogey in horrendous conditions in Porthcawl to card a five-over 76, with Harrington posting a final-round 75 to join him on five over after missing an eagle attempt for outright victory on the final hole.

The players returned to the par-five 18th for a play-off, where Harrington tapped in for birdie – after almost holing his eagle putt from off the back of the green – and Cejka two-putted from 30 feet to extend the contest.

Alex Cejka w/ such a gutsy performance today winning the Senior Open in a 2-hole playoff against Paddy

He grinded for his 3rd major title & played his Exotics to perfection battling the wind & rain on a day w/ an avg score of 78.5

Congratulations Alex we’re so proud of you! pic.twitter.com/WioGsyRFhL

— Tour Edge Golf (@TourEdgeGolf) July 31, 2023

Harrington then missed the green with his approach on the second play-off hole and could only make par, as Cejka posted a two-putt birdie to claim the win and add to his senior major victories in 2021 at the Regions Tradition and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

“I still can’t believe it,” Cejka said.

“It’s been a really tough week. It’s been a really tough two days. I can’t believe I’m standing with the trophy here.

“Seeing all those great names on the trophy, coming in here with all the pictures and everything, all the guys who won it before me, now holding it myself, it’s surreal.”

Vijay Singh finished third ahead of Michael Jonzon after a final-round 77, while Philip Archer briefly led during his back nine before dropping four shots over the final four holes to close an eight-over 79 and drop to tied-fifth.

US Senior Open champion Bernhard Langer ended the week in tied-seventh on 10 over, with former PGA champion Y.E Yang jumping 44 places on the leaderboard during the final day after equalling the lowest round with a level-par 71.

Some 26 of the 70 players featuring on the final day failed to break 80, with Paul Lawrie carding a 10-over 81 and Colin Montgomerie struggling to a remarkable 17-over 88.

The moment Alex Cejka claimed his 3⃣rd Senior Major Championship title 👏#SeniorOpen | #Rolexpic.twitter.com/HnmRE2LRBM

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 30, 2023