Steven Alker’s success on the Championship Tour continued in Arizona.
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New Zealand golfer Steven Alker held on to win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship event in Arizona by one shot, earning himself nearly $2 million.
Alker entered the final round of the U.S. senior tournament with a four-shot lead, but saw that reduced to one shot over the final few holes as South African Ernie Els and Canadian Stephen Ames closed in.
The pair ultimately finished at 17 under, meaning Alker had to parry the final hole to avoid a playoff.
He duly finished his round with a hole under par 70, held his nerve through the back nine holes and parried all the holes, getting himself out of some situations where he could easily have dropped a shot.
Winning the tournament earns him $895,000, with the win also moving him into second place in the season standings, earning him an additional $850,000.
The victory is Alker’s second win of the season and his seventh among the seniors.
American Steve Stricker won his first Schwab Cup title after winning six tournaments in 2024, including three major championships.
He secured the title in the first leg of the playoffs.
Stricker withdrew from this week’s tournament at Phoenix Country Club after his father was hospitalized for a medical emergency.
“I didn’t make it this year,” said Alker, who won the Schwab Cup in 2022.
“Stricker had a fantastic year, he was phenomenal, so we followed him all year,” he said.
“But to come second after coming first last year, that means a lot, just to maintain consistency. And I have a few wins, which is nice. The guys are just getting better out here and just pushing harder, so you just did it. “I have to try a little better every year.
“When I was 18, I made it exciting here, but that wasn’t the plan, I’ll tell you that,” Alker said.
-RNZ/Reuters
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