The Czech-born German took advantage of benign morning conditions to shoot a near-flawless five-under-par 67 in the second round of the 9.5 million-dollar tournament at the Sawgrass TPC.

“I didn’t hit the ball as well as yesterday,” world No. 267 Cejka said. “Yesterday was kind of flawless (but) today I made a couple of up-and-downs and when I had a birdie chance I took it.”

He He posted an 11-under 133 total, while Englishman Ian Poulter carded 68 late in the day for second place on nine-under, with Masters champion Angel Cabrera, of Argentina, among a large group four shots behind.

Cejka, 38, has endured some serious injury issues recently.

“I had major surgery at the end of last year where I had a fusion in my neck,” he said.

“After the surgery, everything was fine until I woke up one day and it was numb and inflamed, so that was a shock for me.

“I had a pinched nerve and numb (right) arm for three weeks, so they had to go in there and put some cortisone in the nerve (last week).

“It’s still not 100 percent, but I feel my hand, so that’s a good sign.”

While Cejka missed only one green in regulation on Thursday, he missed eight on Friday, but made up for it by taking only 23 putts.

Cejka has not won in nearly 200 starts on the US PGA Tour, a record he blames on his putting.

“I’ve been a couple of times close but I knew the putting was holding me back, so the last couple of years I’m working hard on it, and hopefully I can turn it around,” he said.

Poulter, meanwhile, has been playing well recently, so his position on the leaderboard was not unexpected.

“It has been solid the last few weeks and it’s nice to bring that into the Players and play well,” said last year’s British Open runner-up, who also had a fine Ryder Cup for Europe, albeit on a losing team.

“It was key to take advantage of the par-fives today and I birdied three of them and made a great par on the second (hole).

“It would mean everything (to win). It would mean carrying over from the Ryder Cup, the way I played there and the way I played at the Open. It would mean stepping up to another level.”

Cabrera, meanwhile, continued his impressive form from Augusta, compiling nine birdies in a spectacular display of power hitting.

“My tee shots were the difference today. I was able to get the hole started out right,” he said after carding a 65. “Yesterday I wasn’t getting it off the tee in the right spots.”

Cabrera said that while his Masters win, his second major triumph, had not changed him as a person, it had been a massive confidence booster.

“I’m pretty much the same player, but the fact I’ve won those big tournaments gives me that confidence that I know I can do it.

“But in terms of day-to-day life, my life is the same. I’ve got the same friends, hang out at the same places and my game is the same.”

Tiger Woods trailed by seven shots, while 83 players made the cut, which fell at even-par 144.

 

by : PGA

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