Steven Alker pipped in Morocco; Dame Lydia Ko, Fiona Xu, Ryan Fox off the pace; Ben Campbell strong in LIV debut

Steven Alker looks primed for more tremendous success on the senior golf tour, but he’ll also be frustrated after another second placing.

Alker – the PGA Tour Champions 2024 player of the year – has been pipped by Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Trophy Hassan II in href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/morocco/" target="_blank">Morocco, the second tournament of the year.

Alker and Jimenez were tied at seven-under-par going into the final round, before a superb final nine holes saw the cigar-smoking Spaniard claim victory by two shots, finishing at 11-under for his 14th senior title.

The key hole was the 17th, where Jimenez drove the green and nailed an eagle, with Alker making par.

It is the sixth time Alker has finished as runner-up since his last victory, which came over a year ago in the opening 2024 event in Hawaii.

Meanwhile, Kiwis Dame Lydia Ko and Fiona Xu are well off the pace in the Founders Cup, being played in Florida.

Ko, who had a poor opening round, shot a third-round 70 to be near the tail of the weekend field. Fellow Aucklander Xu is also at one under par going into the final round. World No 1 Nelly Korda is among the pace-setters.

It’s a similar story for Ryan Fox at the Phoenix Open, where he is well out of contention after an even-par third round has him sitting at four-under for the tournament and well back in the field.

The contenders spent much of the day chasing Belgium’s Thomas Detry, who is seeking his first PGA title in 68 starts.

In Saudi Arabia, Ben Campbell’s tenure as a fulltime member of LIV Golf has started on solid ground, finishing in a tie for 15th at 10 under par, seven shots back from winner Adrian Meronk.

Fellow Kiwi Danny Lee paid for a two-over second round, ultimately finishing in a tie for 33rd at five-under.

In Qatar, Daniel Hillier is on track for another solid result, sitting in a tie for 16th at five-under after three rounds on the DP World Tour’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Hillier has posted back-to-back scorecards of two under par but sits eight shots off leader Haotong Li of China.