Kiwi Golfer Steven Alker Wins Again on the PGA Champions Tour
New Zealand’s Steven Alker has returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA Champions Tour, taking the latest event in Little Rock, Arkansas, by seven shots. Alker closed with a three-under 69 in the final round to finish 20 under for the three-round tournament, after opening with an astonishing 11-under 61 and shooting 6-under 66 in the second round.
Dominant Start and Steady Finish
Alker’s bid for victory began on a blistering note with the 11-under 61 that set a brisk pace for the field. He followed that up with a solid 66 in Round 2, and the momentum never wavered. In the final round, he managed to stay largely bogey-free, recording just one bogey at the 10th hole but offsetting it with a confident closing stretch. “You just get it online and, hey, Bob’s your uncle. Putting was a difference, obviously, but I just felt more in control of myself in my game,” Alker said, reflecting on the round that sealed the win.
Alker’s iron play was a key factor throughout the weekend, but he also highlighted the importance of a hot putting week. “I got my iron game back on song, so I was hitting nice shots and the putter, you know, it just wasn’t quite there for the last few weeks, but the greens were so good here,” he explained. The combination of precise approach shots and confident greenside work proved decisive against a competitive field.
Course, Competition, and the Chase for the Schwab Cup
The victory in Little Rock also carries strategic significance beyond the trophy. Alker’s win returns him to the top of the Charles Schwab Cup standings, the year-long race that crowns the PGA Champions Tour’s player of the year. While Alker has claimed the Schwab Cup twice in recent seasons, he remains wary of a tight race, with several notable veterans chasing behind him—Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, American Stewart Cink, and South Africa’s Ernie Els among them.
“I know there’s not much gap,” Alker noted post-round, acknowledging the competitive depth of the tour. “There’s probably 5-6 guys that can win it, but I’ve been there, I know what it feels like and got it done. We’ll just keep working on the game.”
What This Win Means Moving Forward
The Little Rock triumph validates Alker’s return to peak form after a mini-slump that affected his consistency on the greens. With a strong ball-striking showing and the confidence from a blistering start, Alker now heads toward the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix in mid-November with momentum on his side. The event, which will determine the year’s top player, remains wide open with a host of skilled veterans ready to pounce.
Looking Ahead
As the PGA Champions Tour calendar progresses, the focus for Alker will be maintaining iron discipline and keeping the flatstick as hot as it was in Little Rock. If he can reproduce even a portion of that performance in the upcoming events, he’ll be a strong favorite to extend his legacy on the TOUR and solidify his standing at the top of the Schwab Cup ladder.
Final standings in Little Rock saw Australian Richard Green finish runner-up at 13-under, highlighting the depth of competition on the Champions Tour’s current schedule. For Alker, it was a statement round, a reminder of his ability to close and of the importance of staying in the moment when the course is kind to his game.
