December 7, 2024 • 8 mins
PGA Tour Champions season victor Steven Alker has his sights set on winning the New Zealand Open next year.
Alker, who recently took home the Charles Schwab Cup on the Champions tour last month, is determined to emerge victorious in next year's upcoming event.
He joined Piney to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Great news for golf fans. Steve Elks coming home for
the twenty twenty five New Zealand Golf Open. Fresh from
winning the PGA Champions Tour overall season title for a
second time in three years. The tournament organizers have confirmed
this week that Steve Elker will tee it up again
at Millbrook And twenty twenty five and he joins us now, Steve,
the last key we to win it was Michael Henry
(00:33):
in twenty seventeen. How special would it be to win
your home Open?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Oh, it'll be super special.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I mean, you know, i might not be the favorite
in the field, but I'll be giving it everything. And
we're going to have an amazing field of New Zealanders
this year. I mean there's so many guys playing well
and getting some experience all over the world. So all
I can say is just come out and support the
Kiwis and I think it's I think we're due and
(00:59):
let's get a Kiwi champion.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Ehe absolutely well, your game seems to be in the
perfect place to achieve at twenty twenty four other superb
year for you, What are the main reasons for your
excellent consistency on the Champions Tour.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Yeah, well, I think.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
You know, that was my third full season now, so
you know, I'm coming on the swing of it. I
know the golf courses, and you know the competition I'm
up against. There's always some some rookies coming on. We
say rookies in a fift year old, but we've got
we've got that, We've got the young, We've got the
young guys coming on and they're they're pretty hungry and
wanting to win.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
So competition is getting better.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So I think that's actually it feels like it's motivated
me at least to get a little bit better and
just get the consistency and try and give myself a
chance to win every week, and that's going to help
my game and I certainly with my consistency anyway, it's
been it's been one of those seasons. It's been ready consistently,
a lot of chances to win in the thick of it,
(01:56):
and just you know, very very fortunate to get up
at the end. So there's always a little bit lack involved,
but it was it was nice to snatch another year
end title.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
How differently are you playing now compared to when you
were younger?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, differently in the fact that I think I've got
a lot more freedom when I'm on the golf course now.
You know, I might not worry about things as much.
You know, I'm getting older and just matured better. So
that's certainly one thing. And you know, I practice smarter
and you're getting older and the body can't take it
as much, so I don't I don't practice as much,
(02:33):
but I probably practice smarter. So I should have started that,
like twenty five thirty years ago, mate, I'd have been
all right.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Are you perhaps less hard on yourself now compared to
earlier in your career?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yes, yeah, definitely definitely.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
And you know, if I if I could go back,
you know, twenty five years and give myself some advice,
that would be definitely one thing that I would do.
And you know that's right when I'm talking to other
Kiwis or youngsters, you know, try and install that into
them because gold was such a game. Well every sport
is now it's so competitive, but golf more so. You
just you know, it's it's a mental game and you
(03:09):
want to you want to just beat yourself up sometimes
for not doing what you want to do, and you know,
it's it becomes a tough game and it wears on
your pretty well. So yeah, if you can, I think
I'm doing that better. You know, I'm not so hard
on myself. And I think the environment I'm in now
actually helps with that, you know, playing with the guys
and it's a little more relaxed. I mean, don't get
(03:31):
me wrong, it's competitive, but just just that environment is
huge and I'm enjoying it, you know. That's that's the
big thing, just just trying to enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Can that realization and self awareness really only come with experience, though, Steve?
I mean, look, it's great advice, and I'm sure any
golfer of any age would love to be able to
not be that hard on themselves. But can that only
come through maturity if you like?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
But I think that the young guys coming out now,
I've got a lot more of that. I think they've
got they've got better of that. You look at the
young guys and and the world of golf, there's there's
a lot of really really good young players. I mean
that the talent is incredible, and it's got a lot closer.
And I think guys are just getting better at that.
(04:15):
They're just they're trying to They're out there to win,
you know. I think when I got out there and
first started, I kind of felt like, gee, I need
a year or two to kind of gett get my
feet and felm away. But now the guys are just
coming out and they're ready. They're coming out of college
or they're they're they're getting some experience that we just
kind of never had and and they're ready to go.
(04:37):
And I think that that's a mental thing that's that's
changed a lot in the young guys for sure.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
And so as you've gotten more experienced, have you focused
more now on the efficiency of your shots compared to say,
your club head speed.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, definitely. I kind of feel like the speed is
going to be what it is. You know, I've got
to a point where, hey, I'm not going to I'm
not going to get to Padrick Harrington's speed or you know,
a Scottish Chefflers speed, I'm not going to get there.
So mine's more about efficiency. You know, my iron play
is improved. That's the probably the biggest part of my
(05:12):
game has improved the last four or five years, which has.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Helped me score.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
And then you know, a year and year out, my
short game seems to be there and getting better, and
my putting has been more consistent, and I drive it
straight anyway, So you know, all that kind of adds
up to pretty consistent, efficient stuff, and so I try
to be more that way. And that's that's why I
don't practice as much now. I kind of focus on
(05:37):
the same things and just try to keep doing what
I've been doing and just try and do it just
a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, you're still looking supremely fit as well, annoyingly
for those of us in our fifties and our fifty steement.
But do you joking aside, do you have to work
on your fitness anymore now than perhaps earlier in your career?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, I think so, just to maintain things, you know,
to not have that bare belly and and just try
and stay in shape, get around the golf course and
actually feel good day to day. I think that's the
hardest thing. Like, you know, we only play three rounds now,
but we're still traveling and you know, in and out
of hotels and airports and we're still doing a full week.
(06:21):
So if you can stay fit, just just to do
that part of it and stay in shape and feel
good when you go to the golf course, that's the
main thing. But for me, it's all about you know,
I want to stay in shape. I want to I
want to feel strong and be strong and do stuff
with my kids. Now I'm getting older and that's important
to me. So yeah, that's a big part of what
(06:43):
I do. She probably probably even a bigger part now
than it used to be, and more important than practice.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
You know, and you're playing. What about So I guess
what twenty one twenty two tournaments per year? Now, does
that feel about the right number for the next little
while for you?
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah? I think so.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
You know, it's you know, as I said, I'm feeling
pretty good and fitness is okay, so I think that's
a good number.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I'm looking at the.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Schedule for next year and I you know, I keep
coming up with twenty one twenty two events, and I
feel like I'm nipping a few out here and there.
But you know, even when he's out and open, you know,
you have to travel down there and all those things
take their toll, so you know, My planning this year
is just to get down a little bit early and
play some play some golf and get get a little
(07:27):
bit more preparation for.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
News in an open week and and then go from there.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
All right, let's circle back there to finish Melbrook. Do
you like the course?
Speaker 4 (07:36):
I do? You know you've got two different golf courses.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
You know that the holes up in the hill and
the other course, which is I think is the stronger course.
I think that's where you've got to, you know, hold
your score and try and take opportunities. You know. The
other course on the flat, the old course, that's where
you can make some birdies and make a run on
(08:02):
on day one or day two.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
So yeah, you know, I grew up playing. I played
a lot with Bob Charles.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
John Griffin was the director of golf there for a
long time, and I spent a lot of time down
there seeing John and playing the golf courses and being
in the area. So for me, it's a special place
to go back to, you know, I know the golf
course the lower of the land, And yeah that helps
too come tournament time.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Now, stuck your coming home alone. I know a lot
of golf fans are looking forward to seeing you in
the flesh, Steve. All the best for the I guess
the Christmas Festive season. Look forward to seeing you down
here and early in twenty twenty five. Thanks so much
for taking our call this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Yeah, thanks mate, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Great news for golf fans. Steve Elks coming home for
the twenty twenty five New Zealand Golf Open. Fresh from
winning the PGA Champions Tour overall season title for a
second time in three years. The tournament organizers have confirmed
this week that Steve Elker will tee it up again
at Millbrook And twenty twenty five and he joins us now, Steve,
the last key we to win it was Michael Henry
(00:33):
in twenty seventeen. How special would it be to win
your home Open?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Oh, it'll be super special.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I mean, you know, i might not be the favorite
in the field, but I'll be giving it everything. And
we're going to have an amazing field of New Zealanders
this year. I mean there's so many guys playing well
and getting some experience all over the world. So all
I can say is just come out and support the
Kiwis and I think it's I think we're due and
(00:59):
let's get a Kiwi champion.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Ehe absolutely well, your game seems to be in the
perfect place to achieve at twenty twenty four other superb
year for you, What are the main reasons for your
excellent consistency on the Champions Tour.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Yeah, well, I think.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
You know, that was my third full season now, so
you know, I'm coming on the swing of it. I
know the golf courses, and you know the competition I'm
up against. There's always some some rookies coming on. We
say rookies in a fift year old, but we've got
we've got that, We've got the young, We've got the
young guys coming on and they're they're pretty hungry and
wanting to win.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
So competition is getting better.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So I think that's actually it feels like it's motivated
me at least to get a little bit better and
just get the consistency and try and give myself a
chance to win every week, and that's going to help
my game and I certainly with my consistency anyway, it's
been it's been one of those seasons. It's been ready consistently,
a lot of chances to win in the thick of it,
(01:56):
and just you know, very very fortunate to get up
at the end. So there's always a little bit lack involved,
but it was it was nice to snatch another year
end title.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
How differently are you playing now compared to when you
were younger?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, differently in the fact that I think I've got
a lot more freedom when I'm on the golf course now.
You know, I might not worry about things as much.
You know, I'm getting older and just matured better. So
that's certainly one thing. And you know, I practice smarter
and you're getting older and the body can't take it
as much, so I don't I don't practice as much,
(02:33):
but I probably practice smarter. So I should have started that,
like twenty five thirty years ago, mate, I'd have been
all right.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Are you perhaps less hard on yourself now compared to
earlier in your career?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yes, yeah, definitely definitely.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
And you know, if I if I could go back,
you know, twenty five years and give myself some advice,
that would be definitely one thing that I would do.
And you know that's right when I'm talking to other
Kiwis or youngsters, you know, try and install that into
them because gold was such a game. Well every sport
is now it's so competitive, but golf more so. You
just you know, it's it's a mental game and you
(03:09):
want to you want to just beat yourself up sometimes
for not doing what you want to do, and you know,
it's it becomes a tough game and it wears on
your pretty well. So yeah, if you can, I think
I'm doing that better. You know, I'm not so hard
on myself. And I think the environment I'm in now
actually helps with that, you know, playing with the guys
and it's a little more relaxed. I mean, don't get
(03:31):
me wrong, it's competitive, but just just that environment is
huge and I'm enjoying it, you know. That's that's the
big thing, just just trying to enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Can that realization and self awareness really only come with experience, though, Steve?
I mean, look, it's great advice, and I'm sure any
golfer of any age would love to be able to
not be that hard on themselves. But can that only
come through maturity if you like?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
But I think that the young guys coming out now,
I've got a lot more of that. I think they've
got they've got better of that. You look at the
young guys and and the world of golf, there's there's
a lot of really really good young players. I mean
that the talent is incredible, and it's got a lot closer.
And I think guys are just getting better at that.
(04:15):
They're just they're trying to They're out there to win,
you know. I think when I got out there and
first started, I kind of felt like, gee, I need
a year or two to kind of gett get my
feet and felm away. But now the guys are just
coming out and they're ready. They're coming out of college
or they're they're they're getting some experience that we just
kind of never had and and they're ready to go.
(04:37):
And I think that that's a mental thing that's that's
changed a lot in the young guys for sure.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
And so as you've gotten more experienced, have you focused
more now on the efficiency of your shots compared to say,
your club head speed.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, definitely. I kind of feel like the speed is
going to be what it is. You know, I've got
to a point where, hey, I'm not going to I'm
not going to get to Padrick Harrington's speed or you know,
a Scottish Chefflers speed, I'm not going to get there.
So mine's more about efficiency. You know, my iron play
is improved. That's the probably the biggest part of my
(05:12):
game has improved the last four or five years, which has.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Helped me score.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
And then you know, a year and year out, my
short game seems to be there and getting better, and
my putting has been more consistent, and I drive it
straight anyway, So you know, all that kind of adds
up to pretty consistent, efficient stuff, and so I try
to be more that way. And that's that's why I
don't practice as much now. I kind of focus on
(05:37):
the same things and just try to keep doing what
I've been doing and just try and do it just
a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
You know, you're still looking supremely fit as well, annoyingly
for those of us in our fifties and our fifty steement.
But do you joking aside, do you have to work
on your fitness anymore now than perhaps earlier in your career?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, I think so, just to maintain things, you know,
to not have that bare belly and and just try
and stay in shape, get around the golf course and
actually feel good day to day. I think that's the
hardest thing. Like, you know, we only play three rounds now,
but we're still traveling and you know, in and out
of hotels and airports and we're still doing a full week.
(06:21):
So if you can stay fit, just just to do
that part of it and stay in shape and feel
good when you go to the golf course, that's the
main thing. But for me, it's all about you know,
I want to stay in shape. I want to I
want to feel strong and be strong and do stuff
with my kids. Now I'm getting older and that's important
to me. So yeah, that's a big part of what
(06:43):
I do. She probably probably even a bigger part now
than it used to be, and more important than practice.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
You know, and you're playing. What about So I guess
what twenty one twenty two tournaments per year? Now, does
that feel about the right number for the next little
while for you?
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah? I think so.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
You know, it's you know, as I said, I'm feeling
pretty good and fitness is okay, so I think that's
a good number.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I'm looking at the.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Schedule for next year and I you know, I keep
coming up with twenty one twenty two events, and I
feel like I'm nipping a few out here and there.
But you know, even when he's out and open, you know,
you have to travel down there and all those things
take their toll, so you know, My planning this year
is just to get down a little bit early and
play some play some golf and get get a little
(07:27):
bit more preparation for.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
News in an open week and and then go from there.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
All right, let's circle back there to finish Melbrook. Do
you like the course?
Speaker 4 (07:36):
I do? You know you've got two different golf courses.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
You know that the holes up in the hill and
the other course, which is I think is the stronger course.
I think that's where you've got to, you know, hold
your score and try and take opportunities. You know. The
other course on the flat, the old course, that's where
you can make some birdies and make a run on
(08:02):
on day one or day two.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
So yeah, you know, I grew up playing. I played
a lot with Bob Charles.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
John Griffin was the director of golf there for a
long time, and I spent a lot of time down
there seeing John and playing the golf courses and being
in the area. So for me, it's a special place
to go back to, you know, I know the golf
course the lower of the land, And yeah that helps
too come tournament time.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Now, stuck your coming home alone. I know a lot
of golf fans are looking forward to seeing you in
the flesh, Steve. All the best for the I guess
the Christmas Festive season. Look forward to seeing you down
here and early in twenty twenty five. Thanks so much
for taking our call this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Yeah, thanks mate, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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