May 11, 2009–It couldn't have gone much worse for Las Vegas golfer Alex Cejka, who plays at TPC Las Vegas, a Las Vegas resort golf course located about 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. Cejka started the final round of The PLAYERS Championship at 11-under par, five shots in front of playing partner Tiger Woods, but he ended the day with a 79, and eight shots behind eventual champ Henrik Stenson. "I was grinding, I was grinding until the end, but nothing was going my way," said Cejka. "After nine holes I was a couple back, but on the back nine anything can happen, and I hit a couple good shots, a couple good putts. But you know, until then I didn't really make bad shots. That's the way it goes sometimes." FINAL RESULTS.
Many thought someone could catch Cejka, who is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory, but they thought it might be the man in red, Tiger Woods. However, Woods had his own struggles and could never mount a charge. He fired a 73 and ended up alone in 8th place. But Stenson played masterfully, carding a bogey-free round of 66 under very difficult course conditions. His net gain on Cejka for day? 13 strokes.
Woods now turns his focus to Las Vegas and his annual fundraiser, Tiger Jam. In fact, even though he is obviously struggling with his golf game, he was already thinking about the big work he needed to do for the event that takes place at Mandalay Bay with No Doubt headlining a concert. Other activities include golf events at Cascata and Rio Secco, and a sponsor dinner before the public concert. "I've got a concert to host this weekend, so we've got a little bit of work to do, not golf stuff, but organizing that and all the things that come with it," said Tiger, who takes very seriously his work with his Foundation.
As far as his swing troubles? "It's not that bad," said Woods, who spent most of the day playing down the rightside of the golf course. "If I had a two-way miss, then obviously I'd be a lot more concerned than I am now, but just a one-way miss like today, you can aim for it, at least I can take out one side of the golf course, and as I said, on a golf course like this, if you're not on, it's really hard to shoot a good number."
Cejka, a good-natured guy who enjoys life, was trying to look to the bright side of his week at The PLAYERS. "It's a positive thing," said Cejka. "It doesn't matter what I shoot. I still finished Top 10. It's good. Obviously I was leading by a couple. I played with the best golfer in the world, and I didn't play well and neither did he, but he kind of saved it. Short game, be more patient, you know? I was just unlucky. I didn't have one good break today, not one good break."
Other PGA Tour pros with strong ties to Las Vegas also played fairly well at The PLAYERS. Kevin Na, a new Las Vegas resident, finished in a tie for third, while Las Vegas native Scott Piercy and former resident Tommy Armour III ended in a tie for 22nd. Former UNLV Rebel and current resident Charley Hoffman finished in a tie for 37th and fellow Rebel Ryan Moore finished in 70th. Moore ended on a notorious note when he shot a final-round 84 that included a quadruple bogey, four double bogeys, four bogeys, four birdies and five pars. Las Vegas golfers missing the cut were residents Dean Wilson and Nick Watney, and former Rebels Adam Scott and Chad Campbell. Quotes in article from PGATour.com. GolfLasVegasNow.com is a credentialed PGA Tour media source.