Rory McIlroy wins at Quail Hollow to end victory drought
By The Associated PressMay 10, 2021 GMT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Rory McIlroy found his comfort zone at Quail Hollow and left with a trophy he badly needed.
McIlroy closed with a 3-under 68 and made it tough on himself at the end Sunday, driving into the hazard left of the 18th fairway and needing two putts from 45 feet for a one-shot victory in the Wells Fargo Championship.
What mattered was ending 18 months since his last victory in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, along with finding a strong semblance of his game as he prepares to return to Kiawah Island for the PGA Championship.
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Alex Cejka, of Germany, tees off on the seventh hole during the final round of the Regions Tradition Champions Tour golf tournament Sunday, May 9, 2021, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Credit: The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) With a big comeback and an even bigger putt, Alex Cejka ensured he won t have to wait or play his way into events for a while.
Cejka won the Regions Tradition on Sunday in only his third PGA Tour Champions start, beating defending champion Steve Stricker with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff to earn a full exemption for the next two seasons.
John Zenor
Alex Cejka, of Germany, reacts after making birdie on the 18th green on the first hole of a playoff against Steve Stricker after the final round of the Regions Tradition PGA Tour Champions golf tournament Sunday, May 9, 2021, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) May 09, 2021 - 6:26 PM
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - With a big comeback and an even bigger putt, Alex Cejka ensured he won t have to wait or play his way into events for a while.
Cejka won the Regions Tradition on Sunday in only his third PGA Tour Champions start, beating defending champion Steve Stricker with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff to earn a full exemption for the next two seasons.
Alex Cejka won the Regions Tradition on Sunday in only his third PGA Tour Champions start, beating defending champion Steve Stricker with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff in Birmingham, Ala.
A childhood refugee from communist Czechlosovokia (now the Czech Republic), the 50-year-old Cejka made a 14-foot birdie putt on No. 18 and Stricker missed a 9-footer with a chance to extend the playoff at Greystone Golf & Country Club.
Cejka had turned a three-stroke deficit into a two-shot lead over the final nine holes for a 5-under 67. His winning putt was from a similar spot to the one Stricker made for birdie in regulation to force the playoff.
Alex Cejka wins first major, outduels Steve Stricker in playoff
Field Level Media
10 May 2021, 09:40 GMT+10
Alex Cejka went from alternate in need of a break to winning the first major of his career as he prevailed over Steve Stricker in the first hole of a playoff on Sunday to win the Regions Tradition at Birmingham, Ala.
Cejka carded a 14-foot birdie putt on the playoff hole and Stricker was unable to match as his 9-foot putt went just wide of the hole.
The ending left Cejka as an unlikely champion as he was only added to the field when Jay Haas withdrew on Monday. The 50-year-old shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to finish with an 18-under 270 at Greystone Golf Country Club.