KITCHENAID SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 27, 2022

Alex Cejka

Press Conference

Harbor Shores

JOHN DEVER: Welcome back to the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores here at Benton Harbor, Michigan. Joined by Alex Cejka, just posted a second round 69, 5-under par for the championship, currently T-7.

Alex, knowing you as we do, I don't think you probably liked your first nine today but you really can flip the switch on the back side and made some really good golf coming in, didn't you.

ALEX CEJKA: Yes, I did. It was tricky today. I think we had the start with the wind and rain, I think the draw for us in this rotation was maybe a little bit tougher. But it was windy. With the rain, it was playing long. The two bogeys I made were unnecessary but happens on a course like this and conditions like this.

But I grinded on back nine. It was really, really tough but I hit some good shots, made some good putts. Made some clutch up-and-downs. And I'm really pleased how I finished today.

JOHN DEVER: Not only the way you finished but you're in a good position. It's not terribly different than where you were last year.

ALEX CEJKA: Yes, there's still guys coming in. When you look on leaderboard, there are only great players up there. They all played great.

We have two more rounds, a lot of things can happen depends on weather on this golf course. But I like my chances. As I said, I'm playing well, and I'm grinding. So we'll see. We'll see what the next 36 holes produce.

Q. How does a round like you played today tax your body, and mentally, too? It is taxing, isn't it?

ALEX CEJKA: With the conditions today, I'm more exhausted than yesterday, especially with the grind of being 2-over at the turn. You don't want to lose more ground, and you know you have tough holes coming up with that wind direction, like 6, 7, really difficult.

So I was hanging in there. Mentally, I'm tired and physically, I feel it today.

Q. You talk about a grind. But it's not the same as a grind at a major -- this is a major championship and you're grinding, but this is adding in the elements and that's just a little bit more, isn't it, or a little extra?

ALEX CEJKA: Yeah, the course is already challenging and tough. Then you add 15-mile-an-hour wind, rain, for eight holes, you know, cold. Yesterday was, I don't want to say way easier to play, but it was so much warmer, so the ball went further. I was swinging better yesterday than having three layers on this morning. But as I said, I'm happy where I am right now.

Q. But it's going to warm up and there's optimism there. Have you had success -- today was a good round for you. Have you played well traditionally in colder weather?

ALEX CEJKA: I used to when I was young. Of course I'm spoiled now. USA spoiled me a little bit. We've been playing mainly in great, warm weather. It's tricky for everybody. I don't like it. I don't think nobody likes weather like this. I think everybody likes to play in at least 70 degrees.

But you know, it's there. You've got to take it like a man. It's a tough golf course, tough elements, tough conditions. I don't want to go home and cry about it. I've got to take it and just move on.

JOHN DEVER: Fill in the blank: Alex Cejka wins his second consecutive KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores if he does this______ in the final 36 holes.

ALEX CEJKA: Shoot 10-under par.

JOHN DEVER: What part of your game would you like to fine tune and give yourself the best chance?

ALEX CEJKA: The putting. I really found something on the back nine, and I was really positive, I was making positive strokes, and I think that's the key. Of course, you've got to drive it well to have great shots into the greens. They are probably going to tuck in the pin positions close past the bunkers or behind water. You want to hit it well and you want to be off fairway.

But it's just everybody, every week, it's the same; who is up there has a great short game and makes up-and-downs. If they miss the greens, they make birdies when they have the chance.