KEY POINTS:
For Hamilton-born professional Steve Alker, the New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour is a home event in two ways.
The 35-year-old has the chance to display his skills in his own country and this week's tournament is also a stop on the European tour, where he will ply his trade in the coming season.
After three years on the second-level Nationwide tour in the United States and a season on the PGA tour, Alker has qualified to play in Europe.
"My wife, Tanya, and I talked about it after I got through one of the stages in Europe through the Australasian tour and early in the season we decided that I should try and get a main tour card back either in the States or Europe," he said. "I had two stages to go through to get there in the US and only one in Europe so I went for that and it worked out. My wife is from Gillingham, near London, so she will be near friends and family.
"We love the States and we've got a place in Phoenix, but I'll have a main tour card and different opportunities."
Alker has played the European tour before. He earned his tour card in 1998 and also competed in 1999 in the main tour and the Challenge tour after losing his full playing status.
"I think Europe suits my game. There are more parkland courses and several that are more like courses here. There's also plenty of variety."
Alker finished 86th on the Nationwide tour money list this year with US$62,070 ($92,500) and a best finish of third in the Xerox Classic. He says he did not really lose form but lacked his trademark consistency.
"I've made a couple of subtle changes in my swing, nothing major, and in the last six weeks or so the hard work is starting to pay off. Gulf Harbour will be a good place for it to kick in. The Australian Masters was my first event on the European tour and I played four days and shot a couple over. It was a bit scrappy but the consistency had come back - I had 73,72,73,72.
"Gulf Harbour is a bit softer this year and there's a bit more rough.
"But I think it's come up well."
Alker was top Kiwi in the 2005 NZ Open, finishing equal seventh. One of his best Opens was at Paraparaumu in 2002 when he was equal second with Michael Campbell, one shot behind winner Craig Parry and five shots ahead of Tiger Woods.
