Hodges, Cejka and Boutier all complete historic winning weeks
This weekend was a hive of activity, with two major champions being crowned and a maiden PGA Tour victory also won in dominant fashion.
Lee Hodges, Alex Cejka and Celine Boutier all walked away from this weekend with fresh silverware. Hodges claimed his Maiden PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open, Cejka won his third senior Major at the Senior Open Championship, and Boutier lifted the Evian Championship to claim her first major championship title.
Hodges, 28, got off to a blistering start to the 3M Open, carding an opening round of 63 and backing that up on Friday with a 64. The former Alabama University golfer then closed out the tournament in dominant fashion, extending his lead to seven shots with strong rounds on both Saturday and Sunday.
Having turned Pro in 2018, this victory marked Hodges' first win on the PGA Tour, and he claimed it in dominant style. The American led wire to wire, carding 25 birdies and two eagles over the four rounds, to walk away with a winner's cheque worth $1.4 million.
Starting Sunday five strokes clear, Hodges carded two eagles on his final round to defeat fellow Americans Kevin Streelman and JT Poston, with Scotland's Martin Laird also in the hunting pack.
What a shot on 18 from Lee Hodges!
He’s in prime position to capture his first win @3MOpen pic.twitter.com/0AP1HY2n6b— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2023
Hodges played immaculately tee to green all week, picking up +3.11 shots on the field over the four days in the category. His Scotty Cameron putter was also hot, with the American finishing the week +1.54 strokes gained putting.
This win has catapulted Hodges up the Official World Golf Rankings. He started the week at #110 but now sees himself sitting just outside the top 50 at #54.
Lee Hodges: WITB 2023
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (8 degrees Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution 6 TX)
3-Wood: TSR3 (15 degrees UST Mamiya LIN-Q Red M40X 8F5 X)
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (21 degrees; KBS TOUR 95g Prototype Graphite Hybrid X)
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-6 irons; KBS TOUR C-Taper 130 X) 620 CB (7-9 irons; KBS TOUR C-Taper 130 X)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46.10, 52.08, 56.10, 60.04 degrees; KBS TOUR C-Taper 130 X (46-52), KBS Tour Hi-Rev 2.0 Wedge 125 S (56-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron GOLO 6 tour prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Alex Cejka: The Senior Open Championship
Germany's Alex Cejka lifted his third senior major when he won The Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl on Sunday. Battling heavy wind and rain on the final day, he overcame Padraig Harrington in a two-man playoff to seal his third senior major.
40-mph winds and sideways rain hampered low scoring on the final two days, with no golfers managing to break par on either Saturday or Sunday.
Finishing +5 for the week, Cejka birdied the second playoff hole to seal victory after Harrington duffed a painful chip on his way to making par.
The moment Alex Cejka claimed his 3⃣rd Senior Major Championship title #SeniorOpen | #Rolexpic.twitter.com/HnmRE2LRBM
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 30, 2023
Reflecting on the win, Cejka said:
Having now won The Senior Open Championship, Senior PGA Championship and The Tradition, the German now only has two more senior majors to win in order to complete the senior grand slam.
Alex Cejka: WITB 2023
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
3-Wood: Tour Edge Exotics C722 (15 degrees)
Irons: Callaway X22 (3) Callaway X Forged 18 (4-PW)
Wedges: Tour Edge Exotics EX5 (52,58 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Marxman
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Celine Boutier: Evian Championship
Home favourite Celine Boutier secured her first major championship, becoming the first French player to win at the Evian Championship.
Boutier, 29, started the Sunday with a three-stroke lead, shooting a final round 68 to finish six strokes clear of second place Brooke Henderson.
A commanding final round saw her start with back-to-back birdies on the opening two holes. A third birdie came at the 5th hole before the only blotch on the scorecard was marked with a bogey on the 13th.
With only a glimmer of hope then given to the chasing pack, Boutier struck back with a birdie on the 15th hole to once more close the door on her competitors.
The first to win the Evian Championship on home soil, Boutier has become only the third French woman to win a major championship, joining both Catherine Lacoste and Patricia Meunier Lebouc.
A childhood dream now complete, the two-time Solheim Cup player firmly secured her place as the most successful French player ever on the LPGA Tour, having also won The Drive On Championship and French Open.
This win also sees Boutier move up to 4th in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.
ALLEZ CELINE!
The glorious moment Celine Boutier became the first to win the @EvianChamp on home soil. pic.twitter.com/gEx1YyKYw9— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 30, 2023
Celine Boutier: WITB 2023
Driver: PXG 0311 GEN5 (9 degrees; Graphite Design IZ-5 S shaft)
3-wood: Ping G425 Max (14.5 degrees; Diamana PD 60 stiff shaft)
Hybrid: PXG 0311 GEN5 (19, 25 degrees) PXG 0311 GEN6 (22 degrees; KBS Hybrid Prototype shafts)
Irons: PXG 0311 T GEN4 (6-PW; KBS PGI 80 Tapered shafts)
Wedges: PXG 0311 Milled Sugar Daddy II (50, 54, 58 degrees; Modus 105 W shaft)
Putter: Bettinardi Custom DASS Studio Stock 3
Ball: Titleist pro V1x
Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
