Steven Alker
{{Short description|New Zealand professional golfer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name = Steven Alker
| image = Steven Alker at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Alker at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open
| fullname = Steven Craig Alker
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hamilton, New Zealand
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|m=1.80|precision=0}}
| weight = {{convert|65|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
| nationality = {{NZL}}
| residence = Hamilton, New Zealand;
Fountain Hills, Arizona, U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Tanya|2003}}
| partner =
| children = 2
| college =
| yearpro = 1995
| tour = PGA Tour Champions
| extour = PGA Tour
European Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia
Korn Ferry Tour
| prowins = 21
| auswins = 3
| nwidewins = 4
| champwins = 9
| seneurowins = 2
| otherwins = 5
| majorwins =
| masters = DNP
| usopen = T45: 2013
| open = T19: 2012
| pga = CUT: 2023
| wghofid =
| wghofyear =
| award1 = Canadian Tour
Order of Merit winner
| year1 = 2000
| award2 = PGA Tour Champions
Charles Schwab Cup winner
| award3 = PGA Tour Champions
money list winner
| award4 = PGA Tour Champions
Player of the Year
| award5 = PGA Tour Champions
Byron Nelson Award
| awardssection =
}}
Steven Craig Alker (born 28 July 1971) is a New Zealand professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has won nine times. He won the season-long 2022 Charles Schwab Cup on the PGA Tour Champions.
Early life
Alker was born in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Professional career
In 1995, Alker turned professional. He has competed on several tours around the world. He has been a member of the PGA Tour of Australasia since 1995. He played on the European Tour in 1998 and 1999, also competing on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour in 1999. In 2000, he won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit.
Shortly thereafter, Alker moved to the United States. He competed on the Buy.com Tour, the PGA Tour's developmental tour, in 2002. 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. In 2007 and 2008, he went back to Europe to play on the European and Challenge tours. He returned to the PGA Tour's developmental tour in 2009. 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.{{cite news |title=Alker outlasts van der Walt in 11-hole playoff in Ohio |publisher=Fox News|agency=Sports Network |date=5 February 2015 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/alker-outlasts-van-der-walt-in-11-hole-playoff-in-ohio |access-date=5 May 2022}} He finished 20th in the Web.com Tour Finals to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season. In 2016, Alker played in The Open Championship after tying for second place in the Final Qualifying event held at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club.{{cite news |title=The Open 2016: Colin Montgomerie qualifies for Royal Troon |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2016-06-28 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/36658124 |access-date=2016-07-14}}{{cite magazine |first=Ryan |last=Herrington |title=An incredible Cinderella story is making Phil Mickelson take a backseat (if for one round) on the PGA Tour Champions |magazine=Golf Digest |date=2021-10-23 |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/steven-alker-dominion-energy-journeyman-pga-tour-champions-leader-63 |access-date=2021-10-23}}
= Senior career =
In November 2021, Alker won the TimberTech Championship on the PGA Tour Champions in Boca Raton, Florida. With the win, Alker had earned $896,207 in nine senior tournaments after turning 50 years of age in July 2021. This amount was more than he made in his PGA Tour career.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/steven-alker-wins-2021-timber-tech-championship-pga-tour-champions |magazine=Golf Digest |date=7 November 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |first=Dave |last=Shedloski |title=Steven Alker wins TimberTech Championship, continues outlandish start to senior career}} Alker continued this form into the 2022 season, recording wins at the Rapiscan Systems Classic and the Insperity Invitational. He also finished runner-up at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and the ClubCorp Classic; losing in a playoff on both occasions.{{cite web |first=Doug |last=Ferguson |title=Steven Alker, the Kiwi journeyman golfer, enjoying his second coming |website=Gulf News |date=4 May 2022 |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/golf-in-uae/world/steven-alker-the-kiwi-journeyman-golfer-enjoying-his-second-coming-1.87622293 |access-date=5 May 2022}}{{cite web |title=Steven Alker cashing in on golf's greatest mulligan |website=USA Today |agency=Associated Press|date=3 May 2022 |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2022/05/03/column-steven-alker-cashing-in-on-golfs-greatest-mulligan/50180881/ |access-date=5 May 2022}}
In May 2022, Alker won his first senior major championship at the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Alker shot a final round 63 to win the championship by three strokes. This was his third win in five starts and fourth in 19 as a senior.{{cite magazine |title=The mastery (and mystery) of Steven Alker continues with his victory in the Senior PGA Championship |magazine=Golf Digest |first=John |last=Strege |date=29 May 2022 |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-mastery--and-mystery--of-steven-alker-continues-with-his-vic |access-date=31 May 2022}}
In November 2022, Alker finished third at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship which secured him first place in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup and the $1,000,000 first prize.{{cite magazine |magazine=Golf Digest |first=Ryan |last=Herrington |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/steven-alker-padraig-harrington-charles-schwab-cup-champoinship-big-winners-2022 |date=13 November 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022 |title=Steven Alker, Padraig Harrington walk away the big winners at the PGA Tour Champions finale }} 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.
In November 2023, Alker won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club, defeating Ernie Els and Stephen Ames by a single stroke. This victory secured second place for Alker in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup and a $500,000 annuity.{{cite news |newspaper=USA Today |first=Todd |last=Kelly |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/steven-alker-wins-2023-charles-233436264.html |date=12 November 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |title=Steven Alker wins 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship for seventh PGA Tour Champions win}}
In March 2025, Alker won the Cologuard Classic.{{cite news |url=https://www.wdrb.com/news/national/steven-alker-wins-cologuard-classic-playoff-for-9th-pga-tour-champions-title/article_fd72b091-89be-5d11-8137-8763db4d9304.html |title=Steven Alker wins Cologuard Classic playoff for 9th PGA Tour Champions title |work=WDRB |agency=Associated Press |date=9 March 2025}}
Professional wins (21)
=PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|20 Oct 1996 |−13 (67-69-67-72=275) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|AUS}} Greg Chalmers |
| align=center|2
|align=right|9 Feb 1997 |−15 (71-67-70-65=273) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|AUS}} Wayne Grady |
| align=center|3
|align=right|8 Mar 2009 |HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship1 |−15 (69-70-67-67=273) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|NZL}} Josh Geary, {{flagicon|NZL}} David Smail |
1Co-sanctioned by the Nationwide Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (0–1)
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|1 |1997 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Senior |Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
=Web.com Tour wins (4)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|14 Apr 2002 |−24 (65-66-69-64=264) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Heinen |
| align=center|2
|align=right|8 Mar 2009 |HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship1 |−15 (69-70-67-67=273) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|NZL}} Josh Geary, {{flagicon|NZL}} David Smail |
| align=center|3
|align=right|14 Jul 2013 |−22 (71-64-61-66=262) |Playoff |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ashley Hall |
| align=center|4
|align=right|8 Jun 2014 |−14 (70-70-65-65=270) |Playoff |{{flagicon|ZAF}} Dawie van der Walt |
1Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia
Web.com Tour playoff record (3–1)
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent!!Result |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|1 |2002 |{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Heinen |Won with par on second extra hole |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|2 |2013 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ashley Hall |Won with par on first extra hole |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|3 |2014 |{{flagicon|ZAF}} Dawie van der Walt |Won with birdie on eleventh extra hole |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|4 |2014 |{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Wheatcroft |Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
=Australasian Development Tour wins (1)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|21 Oct 2001 |−12 (66-70-66-66=268) |Playoff |{{flagicon|AUS}} Gavin Coles |
=Canadian Tour wins (2)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| align=center|1
|align=right|27 Aug 2000 |−10 (71-70-66-71=278) |3 strokes |
| align=center|2
|align=right|17 Sep 2000 |−22 (65-69-62-66=262) |5 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Arron Oberholser |
=Other wins (2)=
- 1995 Fiji Open
- 1996 Tahiti Open
=PGA Tour Champions wins (9)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Legend |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Senior major championships (1) |
| style="background:thistle"
| Charles Schwab Cup playoff events (3) |
| Other PGA Tour Champions (5) |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| style="background:thistle"
|align=center|1 |align=right|7 Nov 2021 |−17 (68-63-68=199) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Furyk, {{flagicon|ESP}} Miguel Ángel Jiménez |
| align=center|2
|align=right|3 Apr 2022 |−18 (71-62-65=198) |6 strokes |{{flagicon|GER}} Alex Čejka, {{flagicon|IRL}} Pádraig Harrington |
| align=center|3
|align=right|1 May 2022 |−18 (67-65-66=198) |4 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Brandt Jobe, {{flagicon|USA}} Steve Stricker |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|4 |align=right|29 May 2022 |KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship |−16 (64-72-69-63=268) |3 strokes |{{flagicon|CAN}} Stephen Ames |
| style="background:thistle"
|align=center|5 |align=right|23 Oct 2022 |Dominion Energy Charity Classic |−14 (69-65-68=202) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|KOR}} K. J. Choi |
| align=center|6
|align=right|30 Apr 2023 |−15 (66-69-66=201) |4 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Stricker |
| style="background:thistle"
|align=center|7 |align=right|12 Nov 2023 |Charles Schwab Cup Championship |−18 (67-64-65-70=266) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|CAN}} Stephen Ames, {{flagicon|ZAF}} Ernie Els |
| align=center|8
|align=right|20 Jan 2024 |Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai |−25 (65-63-63=191) |4 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Harrison Frazar |
| align=center|9
|align=right|9 Mar 2025 |−12 (69-66-66=201) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Caron |
PGA Tour Champions playoff record (1–2)
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|1 |2022 |Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai |{{flagicon|ESP}} Miguel Ángel Jiménez |Lost to par on second extra hole |
| style="background:#F2C1D1;"
|align=center|2 |2022 |{{flagicon|USA}} Scott Parel, {{flagicon|USA}} Gene Sauers |Parel won with par on first extra hole |
| style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|align=center|3 |2025 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Caron |Won with birdie on first extra hole |
=European Senior Tour wins (2)=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
|align=center|1 |align=right|29 May 2022 |KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship |−16 (64-72-69-63=268) |3 strokes |{{flagicon|CAN}} Stephen Ames |
| align=center|2
|align=right|17 Nov 2024 |−17 (66-67-66=199) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|ZAF}} James Kingston |
Results in major championships
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 1998 !! 1999 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2000 !! 2001 !! 2002 !! 2003 !! 2004 !! 2005 !! 2006 !! 2007 !! 2008 !! 2009 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T45 |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T19 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023 |
| align=left|Masters Tournament
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|PGA Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |
| align=left|U.S. Open
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|The Open Championship
|style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Results in senior major championships
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
!Tournament!!2022!!2023!!2024 |
| align=left|The Tradition
|style="background:yellow;"|T3 |T28 |style="background:yellow;"|2 |
| align=left|Senior PGA Championship
|style="background:lime;"|1 |style="background:yellow;"|T5 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |
| align=left|U.S. Senior Open
|T11 |style="background:yellow;"|T6 |T12 |
| align=left|Senior Players Championship
|style="background:yellow;"|T3 |T16 |style="background:yellow;"|T7 |
| align=left|Senior British Open Championship
|style="background:yellow;"|T3 |T11 |style="background:yellow;"|T5 |
{{legend|lime|Win}}
{{legend|yellow|Top 10}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}}
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing New Zealand): 1990, 1994
- Nomura Cup (representing New Zealand): 1991, 1993
- Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing New Zealand): 1990, 1991, 1992 (winners)
Professional
- Dunhill Cup (representing New Zealand): 1997
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{AustralasiaTour player|003333}}
- {{PGATour player|20771}}
- {{EuroTour player|1268}}
- {{OWGR|4871}}
{{Senior PGA Championship champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alker, Steven}}
Category:New Zealand male golfers
Category:PGA Tour of Australasia golfers
Category:European Tour golfers
Category:PGA Tour Champions golfers
Category:Winners of senior major golf championships
Category:Expatriate golfers in the United States
Category:Korn Ferry Tour graduates
Category:Sportspeople from Hamilton, New Zealand
Category:People from Fountain Hills, Arizona