Alex Cejka Bio
Alexander Čejka (born 2 December 1970) is a Czech-German professional golfer whose career has spanned more than three decades across the European Tour, the PGA Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions. Born in Mariánské Lázně, Czechoslovakia, he fled with his parents as a child and eventually settled in Munich, where he took up competitive golf before turning professional. He became a West German citizen during his upbringing and later established residences in both Las Vegas and Prague.
Standing 173 cm tall and weighing 77 kg, Čejka has built a reputation as a steady, durable competitor who has produced headline results on multiple tours. He is best known for winning his first PGA Tour event at the 2015 Puerto Rico Open and for capturing senior major championships in 2021 and 2023, cementing his place as one of the most successful Czech-born players in professional golf history.
Early Life and Background
Alexander Čejka was born on 2 December 1970 in Mariánské Lázně, a spa town in what was then Czechoslovakia. He left the country with his parents as a refugee at the age of nine, a move that eventually brought the family to Munich, in what was then West Germany. The family settled in Munich, where Čejka spent much of his formative years and completed his early education.
It was in Munich that Čejka was introduced to golf, and the sport quickly became his central focus. The stability offered by his new home, combined with access to European golf infrastructure, allowed him to develop the skills that would later support a professional career. He became a West German citizen during this period, formalizing his connection to the country that shaped his adolescence.
Path to Golf
Čejka turned professional in 1989 at the age of 18, choosing competitive golf over a conventional academic route. He joined the European Tour in 1992, beginning an 11-year run on the circuit that would establish his reputation as a reliable performer. His biggest tournament win during that stretch came in 1995 at the Turespaña Masters Open de Andalucía, played at Islantilla Golf Club, and that same season he finished sixth on the European Tour’s Order of Merit.
That strong 1995 campaign drew attention from international observers and helped him climb the Official World Golf Ranking. By 2003, when he shifted his focus primarily to the U.S.-based PGA Tour, he had reached as high as No. 33 in the world rankings, an indication of how quickly he had translated European success into global recognition.
Alex Cejka Career
Early Career (1989–2002)
From the moment he turned professional in 1989, Čejka committed himself to tournament golf. His first sustained run came on the European Tour, where he played from 1992 to 2002. The Turespaña Masters Open de Andalucía victory in 1995 served as his coming-out moment, and his sixth-place finish on the Order of Merit that year confirmed he could compete with the top players in Europe.
During this period he also represented Germany in the World Cup, an annual team event that allowed him to gain experience in alternate-shot formats. Those early years built the foundation for his later move across the Atlantic and gave him the competitive base needed to attempt the next stage of his career in the United States.
PGA Tour Era (2003–Present)
Since 2003, Čejka has played mainly on the U.S.-based PGA Tour. He reached as high as No. 33 in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2003, a career high. One of the most memorable near-misses of his career came at the 2009 Players Championship, when he took a five-shot lead into the final round after rounds of 66, 67, and 72 before shooting a 79 to finish eight strokes behind Henrik Stenson.
He represented Germany in the World Cup 12 times, including a 2011 appearance at Mission Hills Haikou in Hainan Island, where he teamed with Martin Kaymer to tie for second, two strokes behind the United States team of Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland. Čejka teamed with Kaymer in four World Cup appearances in total.
After finishing 177th on the PGA Tour in 2012, Čejka moved to the Web.com Tour. He finished 64th in 2013, then 6th in 2014 to earn a return to the PGA Tour. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. 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.
Notable Events and Milestones
Čejka won his first PGA Tour event in his 287th Tour start at 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 is the first golfer born in the Czech Republic to win a PGA Tour event and the first non-American to win the Puerto Rico Open. At the time, he was also the third oldest first-time winner on the PGA Tour since 1970. In May 2021, he won his first tournament on the PGA Tour Champions at the Regions Tradition, defeating Steve Stricker in a playoff. Three weeks later, he won his second PGA Tour Champions major of 2021 at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, beating Tim Petrovic by four shots. In July 2023, he won the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, defeating Pádraig Harrington in a playoff. All three of his PGA Tour Champions victories have come at major championships.
Alex Cejka Career Wins
Across his career, Alexander Čejka has accumulated professional victories on multiple tours, including the European Tour, the Web.com Tour, the PGA Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Outlaw Tour, the European Senior Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions. His win total is verified to stand at 19 professional victories, with additional results recorded on developmental and senior circuits.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
Čejka has won four times on the PGA Tour Champions, including a 2-0 record in playoffs. His first senior major came in May 2021 at the Regions Tradition, a major championship he won in a playoff over Steve Stricker. Weeks later, he captured the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club, shooting a final-round 67 to beat Tim Petrovic by four shots. His third major title came at the 2023 Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, where he defeated Pádraig Harrington in a blustery playoff. All three of those senior victories were major championships.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside his major and PGA Tour Champions victories, Čejka has posted strong results across developmental and senior circuits, including wins on the European Senior Tour (3), the Challenge Tour (4), and the Outlaw Tour (2). He also won on the Web.com Tour and recorded four European Tour titles earlier in his career, giving him a varied and durable record across multiple eras of professional golf.
Alex Cejka Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Čejka was raised in a family that fled Czechoslovakia when he was a child, eventually settling in Munich, Germany. The family’s relocation during his youth shaped his early years and provided the foundation for his introduction to golf in his new home country.
Personal Life
Beyond his playing career, Čejka splits his time between residences in Las Vegas and Prague, reflecting his Czech roots and his long professional base in the United States. Specific details about his spouse, children, or extended family are not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Alexander Čejka continues his career on the PGA Tour Champions, where his three major championships since 2021 have established him as a consistent contender in the senior game. His run of major titles at the Regions Tradition, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, and the Senior Open Championship has given him a strong platform heading into the new season.
On the PGA Tour Champions, Čejka is expected to balance major championship appearances with the regular schedule, drawing on the experience of more than 35 years as a professional. His history of strong performances in team events, including multiple World Cup appearances for Germany, also remains a possible avenue for international play.
At 54, Čejka is part of a veteran group of competitors who continue to find success on the senior circuit, and his track record suggests he will remain a factor in major championships throughout the 2025 season.