Alker wins Rogers Charity Classic in playoff over Yang

CALGARY, Alberta — Steven Alker of New Zealand won the Rogers Charity Classic on Sunday, beating South Korea's Y.E. Yang with a 7-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. The victory was Alker's second of the year and the 12th of his PGA Tour Champions career.

Alker, 55, closed with a 5-under 65 to match Yang at 16-under 194. Yang shot a 63 in the final round. The pair returned to the par-5 18th tee for the playoff, where Yang made bogey and Alker rolled in the winning putt.

A day earlier, Alker had matched the tournament record at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club with a 9-under 61. He started Sunday one stroke behind second-round leader Ryan Armour and, after bogeys on the par-3 fifth and par-4 seventh, birdied the eighth and then ran off five birdies in six holes from the 11th to the 16th. Yang birdied the 18th in regulation to take the clubhouse lead, but Alker's final-round 65 forced the playoff.

The win added $375,000 to Alker's career earnings, which PGA Tour records list at $13.94 million entering the tournament, bringing him to roughly $14.31 million. Alker now sits fourth in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, more than $2.4 million behind leader Stewart Cink.

Yang's bogey on the playoff hole was the only miscue on the back nine by either golfer; they combined to go 11-under par from holes 10 through 18 in regulation.

Jerry Kelly (63) and Zach Johnson (65) tied for third at 15 under, two shots ahead of a group of four that included defending champion Richard Green. Ryan Armour shot 69 to tie for fifth at 13 under, alongside Retief Goosen (65), Michael Block (67), and Richard Green (67). Brandt Jobe had the day's low round at 62.

Alker's journey to the Champions tour

Alker turned professional in 1995 and spent time on the Canadian Tour early in his career, where he met his wife, Tanya, who was caddying for him. He Monday-qualified into the 2021 Boeing Classic, a breakthrough that set the stage for his success on the PGA Tour Champions. In 2022, he won four times and captured both the Charles Schwab Cup and the tour's Player of the Year award.

"It was a whole nucleus of players that were all coming up," Alker said, reflecting on his Canadian Tour days. "We always have a blast here." His win in Calgary carried a full-circle feel, given his early professional roots in Canada.

Canadian players at Canyon Meadows

Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., carded his second straight round of 66 to finish as the top Canadian at 11 under. He finished in a six-way tie for 14th, his best showing at the tournament since a tie for ninth in 2021. Weir had five birdies and one bogey in his final round, including birdies on 17 and 18.

"It was a good finish to birdie 17 and 18 to finish off the week," Weir said. "I played well enough to be really in contention this week, just the flat stick was a little cold. Overall, I played solid."

Weir will play in the Ally Challenge at Warwick Hills next weekend, then the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach from Sept. 18 to 20.

Stephen Ames shot a 65 on Sunday to get to eight under, and Calgary's Wes Martin shot 71 to finish at three over.

Perspectives

  • Steven Alker: Emphasized the emotional significance of winning in Calgary, where he spent his early career on the Canadian Tour and met his wife. He described the victory as a "comeback" and noted the enjoyment of playing in the city.
  • Mike Weir: Expressed satisfaction with his play despite a cold putter, noting he felt he played well enough to contend. He looked forward to upcoming events, calling his finish "encouraging" and describing the tournament as a "home game."