Steven Alker is back in the winner’s circle, and he returned in emotional fashion.
Alker, last year’s PGA TOUR Champions Player of the Year, won the Insperity Invitational on Sunday near Houston, Texas. He not only had his son, Ben, on the bag but won in front of the friends and family of his late caddie, Sam Workman.
Workman, a Texas native, died of cancer in February at age 55. After completing his victory, Alker pointed to the sky to acknowledge his late friend and then the large group of Workman’s friends and family who came on-site to support Steven.
He shot 15-under 201 to win by four shots. Only one player finished within six shots of Alker.
“Obviously you see the emotion at 18 there,” said Alker, who won for the first time in 2023 and moved up to third in the Schwab Cup standings. “But I saw a sea of orange today (many of Workman’s family and friends were wearing Astros jerseys), and it just reminded me of Sam. I had my son on the bag. It doesn't get any better than that.”
Alker has now won six times in 38 starts on PGA TOUR Champions, including four in 2022. He won PGA TOUR Champions’ season-long points race, the Charles Schwab Cup, and was voted PGA TOUR Champions Player of the Year by his peers.
Alker’s career rejuvenation since turning 50 has been one of the biggest stories on PGA TOUR Champions over the past couple years. Alker never won on the PGA TOUR but has quickly established himself as the top player on golf’s over-50 circuit, beating major champions and World Golf Hall of Famers.
In two weeks, Alker will be competing against the best in the game at the PGA Championship. He earned his invitation by winning the 2022 Senior PGA Championship. It will be his first appearance in the championship and just his seventh appearance in a major championship.
Alker will arrive at Oak Hill on a winning note. We at Straight Down look forward to cheering him on! Congrats, Steven!
Steven Alker Wins 2023 Insperity Invitational; Photos courtesy of the Houston Chronicle and Insperity Invitational
