He overtook Petrovic with a 12-foot birdie putt on No. When I told my dad I was going out on the road full time to caddie he gave me 100% acceptance, Workman said. Yeah, keep making pars and birdies, or its back to the Korn Ferry Tour. 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. An American professional golfer, Steve Stricker has been a part of the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking for over 250 weeks. While Alker is a fit, lean 50 year old, many of his opponents on the tour are former superstars who are climbing into their 60s. Jimenez gave himself a chance with three consecutive birdies on the back nine to get within a shot of the lead. That's the biggest thing, I've had these 18 months, two years, 50s coming up, so let's stay in shape. Alker had announced last week that Workman Alker won four times on the Korn Ferry Tour, his last victory coming in 2014, and three times on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Alker shot a final round 63 to win the championship by three strokes. Im really enjoying that part of it.. He works tremendously hard but he works very smart. Discover Steven Alker's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I just tried to convey that this is who you are now. Steven Alker tees off on the fifth hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. It does take a lot of pressure off, said Alker, . Equipment is accurate as of the AT&T Championship (Champions) (10/28/13) Driver: Titleist 910D2 (9.5) Shaft: Mitsubishi Bassara W 50 3-wood: Hideki Matsuyama whats in the bag accurate as of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open. 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.. More photos from the event here. She lets me drive it, but its her car, Alker said. MORE: Phil Mickelson commits to playing in PGA Tour Champions season finale. He has run a municipal course in his native Texas. He did that six consecutive weeks until falling off to a T15 at the SAS Championship. Its not a Lamborghini. Workman said when he gets back to Texas after this weeks finale he has a friend in Austin lined up to frame the flag. Just kept surviving. The season finale is in Phoenix, Ariz., at Phoenix Country Club, and Langer will be trying to win the Charles Schwab Cup for a sixth time. But before he did, I told him Id eventually get a flag at some point, and we got it done last week.. I still had three holes to go. And now my son has his license and my daughter has her provisional license, so were probably gonna be a three-car family soon.. It has been pretty neat.. Check out Steven Alker's yearly results, profile information, lifetime earnings, and more. Alker now is $3,467,568 richer and a four-time winner on PGA TOUR Champions. Choi, Rob Labritz, Marco Dawson and David Toms are tied for sixth at 5 under. When he came to Texas in 1996, the upper Midwesttransplant wouldn't have imagined heading a program that would give him four state championships. Stop all your thoughts.. Weve been a one-car family for a long time and we have two cars now. Golf's always about giving yourself chances and eventually it will happen.. Alker thrust himself into contention during the second round of Saturdays 36-hole marathon (caused when heavy rains postponed play Friday). I'll have to win in Phoenix.. The struggle led to this. Monday qualifying is a thing of the past. 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. Copyright 2020 GolfWRX Holdings, LLC. One framed flag doesnt a wall make. Winning the TimberTech changes everything for Alkers second act in his professional career. Let me say just as consistent and as quick as weve done it. Last week, he finished tied for second at the ClubCorp Classic in Irving, losing in a three-man playoff that Scott Parel won. You feel it trending and then the first win. I remember him deflecting the compliment, said Kelly, who like Alker has won three times this season and is his closest pursuer in the Schwab Cup standings. Jeff Maggert 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. I just like to see a big stop sign. In 2007 and 2008, he went back to Europe to play on the European and Challenge tours. Stricker, the 2021 Bridgestone Senior Players Championship champion, carded a 68 Saturday. 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. 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. And for most of the past 15 years he has been a caddie on the Korn Ferry Tour. 9. 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. I would have loved to have won this event and then really made it probably a two-man race with Bernhard and I. He just relishes being in the hunt. Alker ran the table in August 2021 at the Boeing Classic. Alker followed with a runner-up finish in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A second-place finish at Phoenix Country Club the following week capped a whirlwind stretch and put $1,146,207 into his bank account. Alker played in the final grouping Sunday and entered the third and final round tied with Furyk one shot behind Tim Petrovic. 1, sitting atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings with three victories in 13 events in what is his first full season. That gave him a two-stroke victory over Furyk and Miguel Angel Jimenez. He showed this weekend that his game is sharp, even though at times he experienced fatigue. Jerry is fantastic. Hes probably as physically fit now as he was 20 years ago, so he hasnt gone backwards. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. Driver: Ping G25 (8.5 degrees @10.5) Shaft: Project X 6.5 (45.25 inches, tipped 1 inch) 3-wood: Ping Anser (14.5 Steven Alker holds the champions' trophy after winning the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. He turned professional in 1995. Then I got my roll going.. And then a T7 and you get the gist. Yainer Diaz becomes first Astros hitter to violate new MLB rules. Im just having so much fun. For winning the tournament, Harrington earned the first-place prize of $440,000, bringing his season total to $3,293,255. 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. Sam has a great personality, Alker said. Its all a bit of whirlwind. Because Ive come a long way in just a month.. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 49 years old? It does take a lot of pressure off, said Alker, who kept grinding on the Korn Ferry Tour until here turned 50. He lost 30 pounds over the past six months. 14 at Mitsubishi In the second round of the 2023 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Steven Alker makes I love my 5-wood. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. Your email address will not be published. Sam Workman, caddie for PGA Tour Champions golfer Steven Alker, died Monday less than three weeks removed from caddying a second-place finish in Hawaii to open the 2023 season. He has spent time as a teaching pro. I had reeled off a nice stretch. I rolled off a nice run after that. He had no status on PGA TOUR Champions, though he had remained active on the Korn Ferry Tour right up through his 50th birthday. He has caddied in an estimated 400-plus events, he said in 2021, for pros including Tag Ridings, Jon Curran, AJ McInerney and Brad Elder. Weve been through a lot. Then, in a blink, everything changed. Support, and the game coming around, people helping me just to get me in shape, caddie, everybody. 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. Seven years or 2,907 days. Alker took the lead when he made a 25-foot putt at the 15thhole and added another birdie at the 18thhole to beat Furyk and Miguel Angel Jimenez by two shots. Steven Alker acknowledges the gallery after his victory in the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Highlights Steven Alker makes birdie on No. The Korn Ferry trademark is also a registered trademark, and is used in the Korn Ferry Tour logo with permission. We have a second career. indicates the event was won in a playoff, Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, 2006 European Tour Qualifying School graduates, List of golfers with most Web.com Tour wins, "Alker outlasts van der Walt in 11-hole playoff in Ohio", "The Open 2016: Colin Montgomerie qualifies for Royal Troon", "An incredible Cinderella story is making Phil Mickelson take a backseat (if for one round) on the PGA Tour Champions", "Steven Alker wins TimberTech Championship, continues outlandish start to senior career", "Steven Alker, the Kiwi journeyman golfer, enjoying his second coming", "Steven Alker cashing in on golf's greatest mulligan", "The mastery (and mystery) of Steven Alker continues with his victory in the Senior PGA Championship", "Steven Alker, Padraig Harrington walk away the big winners at the PGA Tour Champions finale", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_Alker&oldid=1122863477, Winners of senior major golf championships, Sportspeople from the Phoenix metropolitan area, Short description is different from Wikidata, Use New Zealand English from September 2013, All Wikipedia articles written in New Zealand English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 November 2022, at 07:00. 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. Finally, he converted for his first win since he registered the last of his four Korn Ferry titles at the 2014 Cleveland Open. And this now is my favorite golf course in the world.. Its also his 10th consecutive below-par round after shooting his second-lowest 36-hole score. I was playing well and trending and thats kind of what happens with my game, Alker said. Moreover, in his last five starts, he has finished first, tied for second, first, tied for third and first. 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. The mystery is how this journeyman, a native New Zealander who had never found a home in professional golf, turned 50, played his way onto the senior tour and immediately became a dominant player. Youve just gotta own it. It sunk in. Let's go.. Miguel Angel Jimenez tees his ball on the second hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. With nine birdies, Alker fired a final-round, 8-under 63, the low round of the week, to win by three shots over Stephen Ames and six over Bernhard Langer. He won the season-long 2022 Charles Schwab Cup on the PGA Tour Champions. On Aug. 15, 2021, Alker was arriving in the Seattle area in order to attempt to Monday qualify for the Boeing Classic. I was only one ahead of Jim. K.J. 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 I watched Steven play on the European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and all of the sudden out here, wow, the runner-up Ames said. Column: Isnt it time we heard from Georgia coach Kirby Smart? 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. But until Sunday with PGA TOUR Champions rookie Steven Alker, he had never looped for a victory. He came alive on the back nine, going 6 under over a six-hole stretch that contributed to his four-shot victory over Stricker and Jobe. He just stays so even and calm out on the course. This moment is the culmination of a rapid-fire success rate for Alker since joining the senior circuit. By the time the players were on the back nine, the focus clearly was on Alker. 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. 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 That's very obvious.". He was still on the Korn Ferry Tour when he was 49 years of age. A career journeyman until joining the PGA Tour Champions, Steven Alker won the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, his fourth victory in 19 senior starts 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. Ill ask his caddie to get a pics for you. Give me a week or two But would he pick up where he left off? Steven Craig Alker (born 28 July 1971) is a professional golfer from New Zealand who plays on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has won five events. I knew when he got out here he would do well, but I would never have expected this well. And it really had to be or maybe this miracle run never materializes. Alker turned 50 on July 28 and two weeks later qualified for the Boeing Classic. Sometimes you just got to do that. This now is one of my favorite places in America, he said of Boca Raton. I mean, its crazy, like were talking a year later and its just gone by so quickly. Alker, who played only three seasons on the PGA Tour and never finished better than 17th, posted 17-under 199. Canadian Mike Weir won last years championship. Like a power leak at times. 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. FYIThose are i20s in the bag shown, not S56s. Alker played in the final grouping Sunday and entered the third and final round tied with Furyk one shot behind Tim Petrovic. How did a mild-mannered native of Hamilton, New Zealand, go from Korn Ferry Tour also-ran to Champions Tour frontrunner? He is a member of famous with the age 51 years old group. Alker won $305,000, pushing his total to $896,207 in just nine tournaments since he qualified for the Boeing Classic outside Seattle in late August for his Champions There were lot of circles on the scorecard for Alker, who completely took charge of the championship. WITB Time Machine: Chris DiMarco WITB 2013. I love Jerry to death, Alker said. [4] Alker continued this form into the 2022 season, recording wins at the Rapiscan Systems Classic and the Insperity Invitational. He returned to the Nationwide Tour (now Web.com Tour) in 2009. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. On the day he turned 50 last summer, Steven Alker was barely clinging to the label of journeyman golfer. 46 this week in Tucson. Miguel Angel Jimenez hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. But when you have that accent, pretty much everything sounds, well, neat. Bernhard Langer is one win away from history. Kind of learned where Im at, which was good. Alker had just rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on No. His wife is Tanya Alker (m. 2003) Steven Alker Net Worth His net worth has been growing Its a second car and were so grateful for that. But that will change. I just see the guy being in contention quite a bit. The calendar change to 2022 didnt slow him down. Next week well sit down and think about what weve done and the win and it will sink in a bit more then., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. My short game and puttings come around. Needless to say, he has surpassed his own expectations. And he was saying grab it by the (horns) and go for it. 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 He played on the European Tour in 1998 and 1999, also competing on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour in 1999. Hes certainly not a household name not even among professional golfers. With the win, Alker had earned $896,207 in nine senior You cant give the game up for five years or eight years or 10 years and hope to come out here and find it again, you know, unless you were a world-class player. That was when everything else became a Go, including his first professional win in more than seven years. He played on the European Tour in 1998 and 1999, also competing on Europe's developmental Challenge Tour in 1999. 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. Alker literally was playing week to week, needingto finish in the top 10 to qualify for the next event. Magical is the only way to describe his ascension that reached a pinnacle with this victory and the $630,000 first-prize money. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Choi (67) and Kirk Triplett (70) tied for sixth place. That he does, now that he has assured himself of no more Monday qualifiers for at least a couple of years. At 51 years old, Steven Alker height Thank goodness we kind of did have a little break, because I kind of struggled, missed a few fairways early on. I follow absolutely zero Champions Tour coverage so will forgive myself for asking who?! That said OP, you might have more luck with this over in t This run that were on is phenomenal. 9. Steven Alker reacts after his final putt on the 18th hole to win the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. But he made five birdies and no bogeys from there to earn the $305,000 first prize and improve from 46thto 22ndin the playoff standings. He overtook Petrovic with a 12-foot birdie Alker is especially grateful Workman was able to experience his resurgence that started with his first win on the Champions Tour, the 2021 TimberTech Championship at Broken Sound in Boca Raton. A final-round 6-under-par 66 left Alker 18 under for the tournament, giving him the first-place trophy as well as $345,000 in prize money. The top three finishers Alker, Stricker and Jobe came into the final 18 holes atop the leader board at 12 under. I guess (Saturday) was the best day I played but still did a lot of good things today.. That's all I can say. And while Alker will always remember that long putt, Furyk will look back on No. Required fields are marked *. All rights reserved. It was just kind of the next step.. I think right now, I've matured and it's a second wind. In 28 other events, he had no top-10s. 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. The delay did Alker good. I hadnt won for seven years. Theres always a purpose, always have a goal in mind every day. Alker shot a 4-under 68 to finish at 17-under 199 and end a seven-year winless drought. BOCA RATON Four months ago, few golf fans had heard of Steven Alker. So, how much is Steven Alker worth at the age of 51 years old? He fired four rounds in the 60s, including a closing 63. The 2021 PGA Champions Tour money list is headed by 64-year-old German Bernhard Langer who has amassed almost $4m. He now has full exempt status for the Tour Champions 2022 season. 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. Alker won three times before June 1 and then won for a series-tying fourth time to open the Schwab playoffs. It was huge, Alker said. His best finish in a major was 19that the 2012 British Open. WebIn November 2021, Alker won the TimberTech Championship on the PGA Tour Champions in Boca Raton, Florida. He did, and about three weeks after hitting half a hundred he was teeing it up for the first time in the 50 and older circuit. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. He recalled a conversation with Jerry Kelly during the offseason. Now there's a lot more work to do. Im just enjoyed playing out here. Ive been having chances. Before the tournament, Stricker said his strength and stamina would be tested. 18 as Furyk desperately attempted to make up that stroke. It hasnt sunk in. He becomes another international player to win the Insperity. 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 the second of the two playoff events last year, Alker found victory lane at the TimberTech Championship. The par 5s coming in, I hit some beautiful shots there and probably won the tournament for me, Alker said. Jimenez had seven birdies in a 66 for low round of the day. Caddie 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. 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. Steven Alker pitches his third shot onto the first green during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. Turns out, Alkers 50th birthday July 28, 2021 was the big break he had spent half his life in search of. 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. Langer can get career win No. Brandt Jobe reads his yardage book on the fourth green during the final round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in The Woodlands, TX. 2023 www.palmbeachpost.com. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? But he never really had any measure of success on the PGA TOUR. This helps out with college. Being amongst these guys and the enthusiasm they still have for playing theres still that grind and enthusiasm to play, compete and still wanting to win is a great environment to be in. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He's been knocking on the door and in the top-10 each and every week. Theyre in the field for the finale courtesy of the victory, which propelled Alker into the top 36 in the Schwab Cup standings. I didn't know much about him, either, Furyk said. Embrace it and enjoy it.. Now there's a lot more work to do.. A golf lifer, if there was a tourhe found it. This time last year, few on PGA TOUR Champions could have picked Steven Alker out of a lineup.
steven alker witb 2021