Čejka hopes to mount strong defense of Senior Open crown in Carnoustie – Golf News

Alex Čejka hopes to become just the third player to successfully defend the Senior Open when he plays at Carnoustie Golf Links this week.

The German beat Pádraig Harrington in a playoff to claim his third Senior Major Championship title on a stunning final day at Royal Porthcawl last year, adding to his wins at the Regions Tradition and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2021.

The four-time DP World Tour winner sealed victory on the second extra hole after making a putt-putt birdie on the par-five 18th in punishing conditions in Wales.

Čejka's victory in the past 12 months made him only the second German to win the Senior Open after four-time champion Bernhard Langer, and he is now looking to follow in the footsteps of Brian Barnes and Christy O'Connor Jnr who successfully defended the title in 1996. and 2000.

The 53-year-old has missed most of the campaign with a back injury, but arrives at the European Senior Major Championship full of confidence after winning the Open Championship at Royal Troon last week.

Čejka said: “I'm looking forward to defending my title on a different track, hopefully in better conditions if I'm facing the same field. There are a lot of people in form and it will be a big challenge, but I hope to keep the trophy this week.

“I am struggling because I have two months left due to a back injury. I'm coming back a bit and my game felt better than last week at Royal Troon. Winning The Open last week was a big thing because I didn't even give myself a chance to decide.”

Čejka joins 15 major winners in the field this week, including Ian Woosnam, Paul Lawrie, Darren Clarke, Michael Campbell, Angel Cabrera, John Daly, Shaun Micheel, Retief Goosen, Justin Leonard, Jose Maria Olazábal, Rich Beem, Vijay Singh, YE. Yang, Langer and Harrington.

Lawrie, Harrington – both winners of The Open at Carnoustie – and Daly will bid to become the fifth player to win both The Open and The Senior Open, joining Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Clarke as the only men to do so.

To follow live scores from the Senior Open Championship, which will be held from July 25-28, click here.