Alker shot a final-round 68 to finish solo third, which was a whopping eight shots back of tournament winner Padraig Harrington, but still good enough to clinch the series title for the first time. And then a T7 and you get the gist. On the day he turned 50 last summer, Steven Alker was barely clinging to the label of journeyman golfer. Steven Alker plays his tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Highlights Steven Alker makes birdie on No. The top three finishers Alker, Stricker and Jobe came into the final 18 holes atop the leader board at 12 under. Thirty-two events and $4,710,612 later, Steven Alker has reached new heights. Not bad for someone who had to wait until he turned 50 to get a tee time on the second-chance tour. 46 this week in Tucson. I hadnt won for seven years. I still had three holes to go. Ive been paired with him a couple times this past season on the KFT. He is an unbelievable putter and bombs it for his age. Not really surprised t You could see it every week at the end of the Korn Ferry year he was getting a little more excited and looking forward to the move and he just looks comfortable.. The first ever tournament I attended in person was the '96 Queensland Open here in Aus, and I believe it was Alker's first win. He and Michael Camp So, how much is Steven Alker worth at the age of 51 years old? Finally, he converted for his first win since he registered the last of his four Korn Ferry titles at the 2014 Cleveland Open. Langer leads Furyk by 337,727 points entering next weeks Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix. Petrovic struggled to a 74 after an early birdie had staked him to a two-stroke lead and ended up five back at 212. The eagle doubled Alkers lead to four shots and put him in comfortable position going down the stretch. I think right now, I've matured and it's a second wind. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. In 28 other events, he had no top-10s. It was a whole kind of different perspective. I had reeled off a nice stretch. But with the run Alker is on, Workman might need a bigger wall. Amazing. In 2021, 18 days after he turned 50 which made him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions, Alker flew to Seattle looking for an outside shot at getting into the Boeing WebFollow your favorite pro golfer, Steven Alker. Some of it is still sinking in. But until Sunday with PGA TOUR Champions rookie Steven Alker, he had never looped for a victory. I felt my game got a little better every day. The calendar change to 2022 didnt slow him down. USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. Alker, a journeyman on the Korn Ferry Tour for many years, has been a revelation on the PGA Champions Tour since turning 50 in late July and has now won over $1.6m. Life has changed a lot in the last year, said Alker, who grew up playing tennis and cricket along with golf. A second-place finish at Phoenix Country Club the following week capped a whirlwind stretch and put $1,146,207 into his bank account. Scorers watch from the scoreboard near the 18th green during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Alker ran the table in August 2021 at the Boeing Classic. It went to Alkers wife. David Toms plays a shot from a bunker on the first hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Alker had announced last week that Workman At the 2014 Cleveland Open on the Web.com Tour, Alker beat South Africa's Dawie van der Walt on the 11th playoff hole, a tour record for longest playoff. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. His game was pretty tidy from the get-go, too. Youve just gotta own it. It sunk in. The past had been a perennial grind for Alker. It doesnt matter what the struggle was. He played on the European Tour in 1998 and 1999, also competing on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour in 1999. He tied for seventh, which earned him a spot in The Ally Challenge the following week for being in the top 10. The golfers who put on the biggest charge Sunday were too far behind entering the round to factor in the championship. Padraig Harrington says that "54-hole golf is not 72-hole golf. Then came his 50th birthday on July 28 and another whole new world (tour?) Alker won four times on the Korn Ferry Tour, his last victory coming in 2014, and three times on the PGA Tour of Australasia. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Then I got my roll going.. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. In 2000, he won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit, before moving to the United States to compete on the Nationwide Tour in 2002. The highest he has reached was the The seemingly ageless Bernhard Langer, 64, who briefly shared the lead with both Alker and Ames on the back nine, made three consecutive bogeys, then a double bogey on 18 to shoot 71 and fall to third place. The victory also moves him atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings. 1, sitting atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings with three victories in 13 events in what is his first full season. Alker earned this victory and a spot on next years PGA Tour Champions through exceptional play. Steven Alker acknowledges the gallery after his victory in the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. At the 2014 Cleveland Open on the Web.com Tour, Alker beat Dawie van der Walt on the 11th playoff hole, a tour record for longest playoff. One framed flag doesnt a wall make. In fact, he posted six straight top-10s and earned a spot in the 2021 Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. Alker now is $3,467,568 richer and a four-time winner on PGA TOUR Champions. Steven Alker, left, celebrates his victory with caddy Sam Workman during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Needless to say, he has surpassed his own expectations. He was still on the Korn Ferry Tour when he was 49 years of age. He now has full exempt status for the Tour Champions 2022 season. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? THE WOODLANDS Before lightning caused more than a two-hour suspension of play at the Insperity Invitational on Sunday, Steven Alker, Steve Stricker and Brandt Jobe were all battling for the lead. What a state takeover of HISD could mean for parents, students, Houston ISD to face TEA state takeover, Turner says, In Fertitta's members-only club, where photos, media are banned, Study: Low-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack, stroke risk, 750-home agrihood with farm, car-free zones breaks ground, HCC chancellor to leave role at end of contract, Popular breakfast taco spot in Houston announces a comeback, Opinion: 'Dilbert' readers can discern the wheat from the chaff, Loss to TCU sinks Texas' hopes of playing for Big 12 championship. Its also his 10th consecutive below-par round after shooting his second-lowest 36-hole score. Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic, https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/11/13/steven-alker-pga-tour-champions-2022-charles-schwab-cup/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, PGA Tour approves radical schedule changes, reducing fields in elevated events and ending cuts, Drivers used by PGA Tour pros ranked in the top 10 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. In 2000, he won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit, before moving to the United States to compete on the Nationwide Tour in 2002. An American professional golfer, Steve Stricker has been a part of the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking for over 250 weeks. Theres always a purpose, always have a goal in mind every day. Furyk, seeking to cut significantly into Bernhard Langers lead in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points race, sputtered on the putting greens and closed with a 71. He has been a member of the PGA Tour of Australasia since 1995. No forgiveness needed I don't suspect a lot of people do. I appreciate the tip for the Forum post. Alker is from New Zealand - grinded the KF To A career journeyman until joining the PGA Tour Champions, Steven Alker won the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, his fourth victory in 19 senior starts Best irons for 2023 for every handicap and playing style, LPGA: HSBC Women's Champions celebrates 15 years of star-studded champions, Jessica Korda turns 30 and Brooke Henderson reunites with lost luggage, Three sleeper picks to win the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, including Tommy Fleetwood at 80/1, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 15. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/11/08/opinion-steven-alker-pga-tour-champions-timbertech/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Alker outduels Furyk to win TimberTech Championship, PGA Tour approves radical schedule changes, reducing fields in elevated events and ending cuts, Drivers used by PGA Tour pros ranked in the top 10 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. No matter whats going on, whether youre shooting 80 or 65, he stays the same. Nursing a one-stroke lead heading to the par-5 home hole at The Old Course at Broken Sound, Alker finished off a four-under 68 in style with one last birdie to rally past second-round co-leaders Furyk and Tim Petrovic. Heres what you need to know. Jimenez gave himself a chance with three consecutive birdies on the back nine to get within a shot of the lead. He mentioned the other part, too his father. Still got work to do. Furyk said. Ive always hated the fact that Ping players seem to have full Ping bags. He has run a municipal course in his native Texas. Seven years or 2,907 days. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 28 July. Alker didnt come into it feeling assured of anything other than the fact he wouldnt have to Monday qualify. But playing golf is what he does and has since he began tagging along with his father in Hamilton when he was 10. Just trying to stay in the moment see that big stop sign and get all the thoughts out of my head, he said after shooting a 68 to cap a 17-under 199 for his first Tour Champions title. 16 when he missed an 8-foot birdie putt that would have pulled him back into a tie with Alker and put the pressure on the rookie for the final two holes. Alker shot a final round 63 to win the championship by three strokes. Alker played in the final grouping Sunday and entered the third and final round tied with Furyk one shot behind Tim Petrovic. But would he pick up where he left off? Alker played in the final grouping Sunday and entered the third and final round tied with Furyk one shot behind Tim Petrovic. He recalled a conversation with Jerry Kelly during the offseason. The par 5s coming in, I hit some beautiful shots there and probably won the tournament for me, Alker said. Its just all coming together. That's very obvious.". You're KFT player? Brandt Jobe tees off on the seventh hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. That was nice, but it wasnt surprising to me. Now there's a lot more work to do.. The two were able to practice together a couple of times, and Kelly, a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR, had to convince Alker that he belonged among the elite on PGA TOUR Champions. Alker thrust himself into contention during the second round of Saturdays 36-hole marathon (caused when heavy rains postponed play Friday). Let's go for it. No more going week-to-week wondering if he would be forced to play in a Monday qualifier. On Sunday, he clinched his first PGA Tour Champions series title at Phoenix Country Club, punctuating his win with a big smile and a fist pump on the 18th green. Workman said when he gets back to Texas after this weeks finale he has a friend in Austin lined up to frame the flag. Workman estimates he has been on the bag for more than 400 tournaments, for pros such as Brad Elder, Jon Curran, Tag Ridings and AJ McInerney. Looks to be a Ventus Blue or Black. And it really had to be or maybe this miracle run never materializes. You have a bunch of top-10s and you get in the thick of it and just try to get a W. Not that the top-10s aren't any good, it's just that you get that win, and just glad I got one today.. After qualifying for the three-event playoff in just seven starts, Alker needed a strong showing at the opener, the Dominion Energy Charity Classic two weeks ago, and his T-4 enabled him to advance to the TimberTech Championship. In 2016, Alker played in the Open after tying for second in the Final Qualifying event held at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. The unexpected, inexplicable rise of Steven Alker from PGA Tour Champions outsider to a force in senior golf was completed Sunday in Boca Raton, Fla., when the 50-year-old New Zealand native won the TimberTech Championship by two strokes over reigning U.S. Senior Open champion Jim Furyk and fast-closing Miguel Angel Jimenez. On Aug. 15, 2021, Alker was arriving in the Seattle area in order to attempt to Monday qualify for the Boeing Classic. The players who tend to do nicely out here are the ones who are still trying to be competitive from 45 years of age to 50 years of age. He had another one on 13 but then birdied the 14th. Caddie Hes certainly not a household name not even among professional golfers. He lost 30 pounds over the past six months. Masters: Wanna play Augusta National? Choi, Rob Labritz, Marco Dawson and David Toms are tied for sixth at 5 under. I watched Steven play on the European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and all of the sudden out here, wow, the runner-up Ames said. WITB Time Machine: Chris DiMarco WITB 2013. Sundays victory marked his eighth top-10 finish in nine starts. He has finished in the top 10 in 16 of his 19 starts, nine of them top-three finishes. How did a mild-mannered native of Hamilton, New Zealand, go from Korn Ferry Tour also-ran to Champions Tour frontrunner? Hes probably as physically fit now as he was 20 years ago, so he hasnt gone backwards. He was successful enough to graduate to the full PGA Tour in 2003, but was unable to retain his card and returned to the development tour from 2004 to 2006. Alker followed with a runner-up finish in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Fans walk past a sign warning of lightning after play was suspended during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Stricker, who was playing competitive golf for the first time since October after recovering from a mystery illness, was co-leader after the first two rounds and shot under par all three rounds. I always know I've been good, but to play with these guys, it's just a matter of feeling comfortable, Alker said. Eventually you do that enough, you win a tournament.. Youve got to keep being competitive and he did that. Steven Alker holds the champions' trophy after winning the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Hes just I think the preparation of playing with those young kids on the Korn Ferry Tour and competing with them just kept him going. 46 this week in Tucson. [8] He also won the Arnold Palmer Award for the season-long money title and the Byron Nelson Award for the lowest scoring average for the 2022 season. That's all I can say. Sunday marked Alkers third win on PGA Tour Champions (17 starts) with all three titles coming in his last nine starts, and its his second win in his last three tournaments. Which always brought up the familiar question: When are you going to stop chasing the dream? I can't put my finger on one thing exactly. Alker won three times before June 1 and then won for a series-tying fourth time to open the Schwab playoffs. Those are the ones. Biding his time on the Korn Ferry Tour until he turned 50 on July 28, doing the hard yards as he put it, Alker had been a frequent visitor to Champions Tour leader boards. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. He is a member of famous with the age 51 years old group. So he went to the Boeing feeling pretty good about his game, but not really knowing what to expect. And for most of the past 15 years he has been a caddie on the Korn Ferry Tour. Support, and the game coming around, people helping me just to get me in shape, caddie, everybody. In fact, Workman said he still had the flag from the 18th hole at the TimberTech Championship in Boca Raton, Florida, on him as he and Alker wrapped up practice on Tuesday in Phoenix in preparation for the final event of the 2020-21 PGA TOUR Champions elongated super season, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. With a final-round 69, Langer was T-11 and remained in front in the points standings heading into next weeks Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the last start on the extended senior schedule spread over two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. We never changed a thing, said Sam Workman, Alkers caddy for the last three years. Hes very loyal and just stuck with me and dug the hard yards and to come out with a win it was pretty special.. So there will be college shortly. That gave him a two-stroke victory over Furyk and Miguel Angel Jimenez. Now, finally, staying the course has paid off. Alker has made more money in the past 12 months than he had in his entire professional golf career. I rolled off a nice run after that. He just stays so even and calm out on the course. He had played in 10 events, posted nine top-10s and pocketed $1,146,207. He overtook Petrovic with a 12-foot birdie putton No. He's been knocking on the door and in the top-10 each and every week. It's just that you get that win, and just glad I hung on today.. Their first event was The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay and Alker finished T4, his best Korn Ferry Tour result since 2014. Im just enjoyed playing out here. There were lot of circles on the scorecard for Alker, who completely took charge of the championship. Not sure about the clubs, but you want to feed him an apple, use an open flat palm. 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