Steven Craig Alker Bio
Steven Craig Alker (born 28 July 1971) is a New Zealand professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has won 10 times. He captured the season-long 2022 Charles Schwab Cup on the PGA Tour Champions, cementing his status as one of the most successful New Zealand-born players on the senior circuit.
A late bloomer on the senior stage, Alker turned 50 in July 2021 and quickly became a fixture at the top of leaderboards. He is recognized for a calm temperament, accurate ball striking, and exceptional work with the flat stick.
Early Life and Background
Steven Craig Alker was born on 28 July 1971 in Hamilton, New Zealand. Hamilton, situated in the Waikato region of the North Island, provided Alker with access to a strong golfing community and a climate suited to year-round play. He grew up immersed in the sport, developing his swing on New Zealand’s parkland courses.
Before turning professional, Alker built his foundation as an amateur golfer competing in domestic events. His early experience in Hamilton helped shape the consistent and methodical approach that would later define his professional career.
Path to Professional Golf
Alker turned professional in 1995, beginning a long journey across multiple international tours. He has been a member of the PGA Tour of Australasia since that year, providing a steady competitive home base in his home region.
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, an early indication of his ability to win outside Australasia. He later moved to the United States to compete on the PGA Tour’s developmental tour, working toward a spot on the game’s biggest stage.
Steven Craig Alker Career
Early Career (1995–2000)
During his early professional years, Alker competed on the PGA Tour of Australasia and in Europe, steadily improving and collecting regional titles. His breakthrough international result came in 2000 when he won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit, a clear sign that he could succeed beyond Australasia.
Those formative years on multiple tours taught Alker the importance of consistency and patience, traits that would later define his play on the senior circuit.
PGA Tour and Web.com Tour Years (2002–2016)
Alker moved to the United States and 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, although he was unable to retain his card and returned to the development tour from 2004 to 2006.
In 2007 and 2008, he returned to Europe to play on the European and Challenge tours, then rejoined the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit 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 the longest playoff. 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 at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club.
PGA Tour Champions Breakthrough (2021–2022)
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, more than he had made in his PGA Tour career.
Alker continued his 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.
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, marking his third win in five starts and fourth in 19 as a senior.
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. 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.
PGA Tour Champions Continued Success (2023–Present)
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.
In March 2025, Alker won the Cologuard Classic, adding another title to his PGA Tour Champions resume and reinforcing his standing among the senior game’s elite competitors.
Driving Style and Strengths
Alker is recognized for steady ball striking, a calm demeanor under pressure, and dependable work on and around the greens. His patient, course-management approach has produced consistent results on a variety of PGA Tour Champions layouts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Alker’s signature achievements include his 11-hole playoff victory at the 2014 Cleveland Open, a tour record for the longest playoff, and his 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship win, where his closing 63 sealed a three-stroke victory in a senior major.
Steven Craig Alker Career Wins
Alker has built a multi-tour resume, including wins on the Canadian Tour, the Web.com Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, and the PGA Tour Champions, where he has reached double digits in victories.
PGA Tour Champions Highlights
Alker has won 10 times on the PGA Tour Champions. His senior journey began with the 2021 TimberTech Championship, continued with early-2022 wins at the Rapiscan Systems Classic and the Insperity Invitational, and was highlighted by his 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. He added the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship and the 2025 Cologuard Classic to his tally.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the PGA Tour Champions, Alker has collected wins on the Canadian Tour, the Web.com Tour, and the PGA Tour of Australasia. He also recorded a win on the Australasian Development Tour and the European Senior Tour, underscoring his longevity across the global professional game.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour Champions | 10 | — | — |
| Web.com Tour | 4 | — | — |
| Canadian Tour | 2 | — | — |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 3 | — | — |
| European Senior Tour | 2 | — | — |
| Australasian Development Tour | 1 | — | — |
Steven Craig Alker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Steven Craig Alker grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand, where his family supported his early sporting development. His roots in Hamilton helped shape his steady approach to professional golf.
Personal Life
Steven Craig Alker is married to his wife, Tanya. The couple has split their residence between Hamilton, New Zealand, and Fountain Hills, Arizona, in the United States, balancing time between his home country and a key PGA Tour Champions base.
2025 Season Performance
Alker began his 2025 PGA Tour Champions campaign in strong form, capturing the Cologuard Classic in March. The win extended his run of seasons with multiple senior titles and kept him near the top of the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Entering the heart of the 2025 schedule, Alker remains a fixture in the season’s marquee events, building on his prior success in senior majors. His combination of accuracy and poise under pressure has positioned him as a regular contender on the circuit.
With continued health and form, Alker’s 2025 outlook points toward another strong push in the Charles Schwab Cup race, consistent with his pattern of contending deep into each campaign.