Senior Open stress for Alex Cejka after locking golf clubs in car and losing keys

Two-time major winner Alex Cejka almost checked out early in the Senior Open at Gleneagles after locking his clubs in the car and losing the keys.

The Czech-born 51-year-old put himself through a torrid time between his opening round and the second circuit on the King’s Course.

Alex Cejka during the second round of The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Gleneagles. Picture: Phil Inglis/Getty Images.

placeholder image — Alex Cejka during the second round of The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Gleneagles. Picture: Phil Inglis/Getty Images.

“Came here in great form and played well yesterday without getting anything out of my round,” said German citizen Cejka of a first-day 70 in the $2.75 million event.

“Then I drove home, left my clubs in the car, for the first time in my career, and lost the keys. I tried and failed to get into the car.

“So I called a cab and waited one hour for the cab and it never showed up. So I had to borrow a car just to make my tee off time and made it with just minutes to spare after finding a set of clubs in the pro shot. But I only had time to hit two shots.”

That was reflected as he carded four bogeys in the opening eight holes en route to a second-round 73 for a three-over total, which only just got him through to the weekend.

“Not being my clubs, you are not sure where the ball is going and the loft felt a little bit weird,” he added. “It all felt a little bit unlucky but I learned a great lesson, never leave the clubs in the car.

“I felt bad and made a lot of mistakes because I wasn’t used to the equipment. But I don't want to blame it on the clubs and I suppose three-over-par wasn't bad considering.”