But he sure has earned that status.
Alker, at 51, is the star attraction at the Open this week courtesy of his remarkable exploits on the Champions Tour last year, when he won four times, including the Senior PGA, and banked a cool $NZ5.5 million.
"It’s kind of a different dynamic, I guess," he said yesterday.
"In terms of being one of the favourites, obviously the year I’ve had has been fantastic, and any way I can promote the tournament is what I feel like I needed to do.
"It’s just exciting to be back. I love playing in front of Kiwi crowds and on home soil.
"I’m just going to go play my game. I’m not going to try anything special. I’m just going to do my stuff and, hopefully, it’s good enough."
Alker has not been in New Zealand since 2019, when he tied for eighth at the Open.
It meant a lot to be home, he said.
"Just good to get some New Zealand air, get some Kiwi food into me and a few beers, and it’s been great.
"It’s good to see some old faces. That’s the most exciting thing, especially down here."
Alker acknowledged there would be some strangeness about being in a field in which he was not surrounded by other middle-aged golfers.
He is very comfortable with his own game, understandably, after playing so well on the Champions Tour.
"I think I’ve just got smarter, and got to know my game even better.
"It feels good, you know. My short game is maybe better, and my putting’s better, and I’ve maintained length, which is important."
Alker highlighted the fact Millbrook, which uses two separate 18 holes for the opening two rounds before a composite 18 at the weekend, was not a particularly long course.
That put a premium on placement, and he felt he was in a good place to hit good approach shots and give himself a chance to score.
Alker was set to have wife Tanya carrying his bag but they mixed up her flights, and she only arrived in Queenstown yesterday.
His caddy will now be Mackenzie Gibson, the golf centre co-ordinator at Dunedin club Chisholm Links.
If not Alker, the strongest Kiwi challenge appears likely to come from one of three corners.
Daniel Hiller is the heir presumptive, after making his way on the DP World Tour; Michael Hendry, the last New Zealander to win the Open, in 2017, tied for fifth in 2020 and is fresh off victory at the Vic Open; and Josh Geary usually plays well in Arrowtown.
Defending champion Brad Kennedy is joined by fellow Australian former champions Dimi Papadatos, Jordan Zunic, Zach Murray and Matthew Griffin.
Other Australians to watch include Rhein Gibson, who won on the Korn Ferry Tour recently; David Micheluzzi, leading the Australian order of merit; Jason Scrivener, a late entry off the DP World Tour; Brett Coletta, who shot 61 to win the TPS Hunter Valley last week; and rising star Elvis Smylie.
Japanese golfers in contention could include the big-hitting Riki Kawamoto and Mikumo Horikawa, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour.
For the lay fan, there will be interest in how the likes of cricketers Brendon McCullum, Stephen Fleming and father-and-son Sir Ian and Liam Botham swing a golf club.
The wildcard, for the professionals, is how they adjust to the course changes at Millbrook, and the challenge of playing the resort’s two separate 18s.
The weather forecast looks excellent for the first two rounds of the tournament, but it could be chillier with some showers at the weekend.
NZ Open - The facts
— 102nd Open
— 10th year in pro-am format
— 156 professionals matched with 156 amateurs
— Top 60 professionals plus ties make cut
— Pro-am field cut to 40 then 10
— Co-sanctioned by PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour
— $1.7 million purse
Follow the action
Notable tee times
Coronet course: Nick Voke, 8.24am, No1; David Smail, 9.19am, No11; Michael Hendry, 1.05pm, No1; Rhein Gibson, 1.05pm, No1.
Remarkables course: Brad Kennedy, 8.02am, No10; Steven Alker/Daniel Hillier, 8.13am, No10; Dimi Papadatos/Brendon McCullum, 8.24am, No1; Josh Geary, 8.24am, No10; Jordan Zunic, 12.32pm, No1; Zach Murray, 1.16pm, No1; Sir Ian Botham, 2pm, No1.
