Alex Čejka
Alexander Čejka is a Czech/German professional golfer.
Čejka was born in Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia. He left Czechoslovakia with his parents as a refugee at the age of nine, eventually settling in Munich, where he lived for many years, becoming a German citizen. Čejka lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also has a home in Prague.
Professional career
Čejka turned professional in 1989 and played on the European Tour from 1992 to 2002. His biggest tournament win was the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in 1995. That year he came 6th on the European Tour's Order of Merit. Since 2003 he has played mainly on the U.S. based PGA Tour. In 2003 he reached as high as No. 33 in the Official World Golf Ranking.Čejka took a five-shot lead into the final round of the 2009 Players Championship after rounds of 66, 67, and 72. He shot a 42 on the front nine, however, en route to a 79 and an eight-stroke loss to Henrik Stenson.
He has represented Germany in the World Cup 12 times, including in 2011 at Mission Hills Haikou in Hainan Island, teaming with partner Martin Kaymer to tie for second, two strokes behind the winning United States team of Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland. Čejka teamed with Kaymer in four World Cup appearances.
In 2012 Čejka finished 177th on the PGA Tour and moved to the Web.com Tour. He finished 64th in 2013, then 6th in 2014 to earn a return to the PGA Tour.
Čejka won his first PGA Tour event in his 287th Tour start, the 2015 Puerto Rico Open. Two players bogeyed the 18th hole ensuring a five-man playoff; Čejka won with a birdie at the first playoff hole. He also is the first golfer born in the Czech Republic to win a PGA Tour event and first non-American to win the Puerto Rico Open.
With most of the sports world on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Čejka played on the Arizona-based Outlaw Tour, one of the few professional golf tours in operation during the pandemic, where he won two events.
Professional wins (14)
PGA Tour wins (1)
PGA Tour playoff recordNo. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
1 | 2015 | Puerto Rico Open | Jon Curran, Emiliano Grillo, Tim Petrovic, Sam Saunders | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 2017 | Shriners Hospitals for Children Open | Patrick Cantlay, Kim Meen-whee | Cantlay won with par on second extra hole |
European Tour wins (4)
Web.com Tour wins (1)
Challenge Tour wins (4)
Outlaw Tour wins (2)
- 2020 Arrowhead Classic, Parker Open
Other wins (2)
- 1990 Czech Open
- 1992 Czech Open
Results in major championships
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made – 4
- Longest streak of top-10s – 1
Results in The Players Championship
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships
1Cancelled due to 9/11QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament