Alker plans Open campaign carefully

NZ Newswire July 5, 2012, 2:15 pm

New Zealand golfer Steve Alker is planning his assault on the British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes later this month carefully.

In the United Kingdom by chance, Alker won the qualifying tournament in West Lancashire on Wednesday with rounds of 69 and 68 to finish seven under par and win by two shots.

The Hamilton professional, currently 63rd on the money list, has played in the Open Championship in 1998 and 2007, missing the cut on both occasions.

He's had a mixed season on the second-tier web.com Tour this year, with his highest finish a tie for fourth at the Chile Classic.

But he's preparing carefully for the Open, which begins on July 15 at the same course Sir Bob Charles triumphed at in 1963.

Alker plans to travel to the southern coast of Britain to get out of the habits of American golf and ready for the demands of playing a world-famous links at the Open.

"I enjoy links golf. Conditions-wise, it can be horrible sometimes but I enjoy that type of golf," Alker said.

"Keeping the ball on the ground a bit more in windy conditions is fun. I haven't seen Lytham before so I am interested to see what it's like."

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