Steven

Alker

The 45-year-old returns to the main stage for just a third time (2003, 2015) with all three trips coming as a WCT grad. He made 15 regular-season starts in 2016 on the junior circuit with one top 10 (67th in money), but regained his card primarily on the strength of a back-door solo eighth at the Boise Open (second Finals event), with a closing 9-under 62. The Kiwi, who resides in Arizona, has made 63 career starts on the PGA TOUR and played in one event last season, a MC as a U.S. Open-qualifier. His career best is T19 at the 2012 Open Championship.

The Kiwi, who resides in Arizona, played in one event last season, a missed cut as a US Open-qualifier. His career best in 68 starts is T19 at the 2012 Open Championship. The 45-year-old made 15 regular-season starts in 2016 on the WCT with one top 10 (67th in money), but regained his card with a 14th-place finish in Finals’ money, posting two top 20s and one MC. The 2016-17 campaign will be just his third full season since joining the TOUR in 2003 and he’s 3-for-5 with a best of T26 at the Safeway Open. Alker’s highlights so far are an ace in the final round of the Sanderson Farms -- in his first swing of the day -- and a career-low 64 in R1 of the RSM, eventually finishing T54 (71-71-70).

The 45-year-old is making just his third appearance with a missed cut in 2015 (by one) on rounds of 72-69-69 and a T28 on debut in 2003. He kicked off with 5-over 77 on Spyglass Hill (averaging 2.000 putts per GIR). Beginning on No. 10 tee in R2, the World No. 532 was 10 swings better, circling five birdies on 11 (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, recording 1.615 putts per GIR and 2.650 SG: Putting. Just 33 of 154 pros completed their respective second rounds on Friday with the Kiwi, who resides in Arizona, carding the only blemish-free lap thus far. He is one (of 10) players on TOUR this season to record a hole-in-one, with his coming at No. 10 in R4 of the Sanderson Farms -- in his first swing of the day.

The straight-shooting veteran split 10 (of 14) fairways on his way toward 10 greens in regulation. The ball-striking was okay, but the flat stick is really what excelled today. Alker opened his round with a 10'7" par saver, a sign of things to come. He would go on make six more putts from outside six feet, including three from outside 15 feet. The 45-year-old gained 3.304 strokes putting on the day. This is Alker’s first look at the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, but it’s looking like a great fit after one day of play.

This is the 45-year-old’s 79th career start on TOUR. He has seven career top-25 finishes but no top 10s. In 15 starts so far this season, the New Zealander has one top 25, a T25 at the CareerBuilder back in January. He’s made seven cuts and missed eight, including a MC by two in his most recent start three weeks ago at the Byron Nelson (75-69), Alker’s career best is T19 at the 2012 Open Championship. He 2-for-2 at the FESJC, posting T70 on debut in 2003 and T22 on last visit in 2015, where he was solo 3rd thru 36 holes (65-68), before fading with 74-69.

Alker opened his week with a 1-over-par 35-36=71 on Thursday. He split all 14 fairways in the process before losing 2.627 strokes approaching-the-green and 0.665 strokes putting. The Kiwi entered the week ranked 179th in the FedExCup race and was positioned just outside the cut line after day one, so this WD is likely an injury or personal matter. This will go in the books as his first career mid-tournament WD on the PGA TOUR (81 total starts). We will update if any injury news gets passed along. UPDATE: Alker cited an illness as the reason for his WD.

At 8-under 134, Alker is only two shots off the 36-hole clubhouse lead. He hit 15 greens in regulation to total 31 at the midpoint, but unlike Thursday’s blemish-free card, the Kiwi finally squared a bogey at the par-4 fourth hole today. He saved pars with conversions from 18 feet and 12'8" at Nos. 12 and 15, respectively, and lassoed three birdies, the longest from 30'3" at the par-5 10th where he began the day. Alker has little to no fantasy value, but it’s always fun observing a journeyman play well deeper into a tournament. The 43-year-old is winless in 56 PGA TOUR starts.

The Kiwi was the third alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry following two withdrawals this morning. He’s riding an 0-for-4 slide dating back to the Farmers in early February. In his only previous start at Quail Hollow, he missed the cut in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2003.

Alker hit the ground running with a birdie-3 from 14 feet at the first hole. He chased it with six more birdies, four of which from outside 10 feet. His longest found the cup from 27'7" at the par-5 eighth. His seven birdies co-led the field when he signed his card. He also squared four bogeys, including a three-putt from just 17'4" at the par-5 fifth, but the Kiwi is a mere four shots off the clubhouse lead. This marked his first competitive loop of Quail Hollow since his only previous appearance in his rookie year of 2003.