Golf: Alker poised to join PGA ranks

Steven Alker looks destined to add another New Zealand name to the US PGA Tour line-up next year after his second-equal finish in Louisiana yesterday.

Alker launched himself from 15th to 10th on the second-tier Buy.com money list with a final round of six-under 66 at the Hibernia Southern Open in Shreveport.

It tied him for second with American John Morse on 200, 16-under and three shots adrift of winner David Morland.

More importantly, it boosted Alker's season earnings to US$202,208 ($418,374) to rank him 10th, just behind Australian Aaron Baddeley.

The top 15 on the money list after next weekend's season-ending Buy.com Tour Championship will earn full exempt status for the PGA Tour next year.

New Zealand had their biggest representation yet on the PGA Tour this year, with Phil Tataurangi, Craig Perks, Frank Nobilo, Grant Waite and Michael Long all playing.

Tataurangi won just short of $2 million for his breakthrough PGA Tour win in Las Vegas last week and Long finished tied for 17th in the Disney Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, with a final round of three-under 69 yesterday.

But it seems Long will not automatically keep his Tour card. With total earnings of US$149,546 in his rookie season, Long is still a long way from the top-125 mark, which is US$509,845.

Also in danger of missing an automatic return are Nobilo and Waite.

* Ernie Els collected his fourth world matchplay championship title when he overcame an erratic Sergio Garcia, of Spain, 2 and 1 in yesterday's 36-hole final in Wentworth, England.

The 33-year-old got a scare when he let a five-hole lead slip to only one with four holes to go. But a wayward Garcia gifted the South African the 34th hole when he smashed his drive into the trees and with it a chance of lifting the $800,000 winner's cheque.

"I really did not putt well. I was struggling on the greens and Sergio kept battling," said Els, who has a home beside the 16th fairway.

The 22-year-old Garcia was the youngest finalist in the 39-year history of the event.

* Bob Burns became the 16th player to win his first PGA Tour event this year at the Disney Classic yesterday, although he distinguished himself in one significant way.

None of the other first-time winners, including Tataurangi, had to hold off a charge from Tiger Woods.

Playing with the poise of a proven winner, Burns made consecutive birdies on the back nine to seize control and was then solid for the rest of his round, closing with a seven-under 65 to clinch a one-stroke victory over Chris DiMarco.

Woods, trying to stage his greatest final-round comeback on the Tour, made up a six-stroke deficit over 10 holes and finished with a 63. He was third, two strokes behind Burns.

It was the second time in three years at Disney that Woods has finished at a 23-under 265 with only a third-place finish to show for it.

Burns earned US$666,000($1,400,042) for his win and now has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

- AGENCIES