BERKSHIRE, England (AP) — Steven Alker had six birdies and an eagle on his way to a 7-under 63 on Thursday on the Old Course at Sunningdale, giving him a one-shot lead in the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, the final major of the year on the PGA TOUR Champions.

Alker has twice won the Charles Schwab Cup and has nine PGA TOUR Champions titles, but he has only one senior major, the Senior PGA Championship in 2022.

He led by one shot over Mark Hensby of Australia. Defending champion K.J. Choi and Joe Durant were three shots behind at 66.

“I was just efficient today. Drove it in the fairway when I needed to and iron play was solid and just made some putts, especially on the back nine, just kind of kept things rolling," Alker said. “Always need momentum. It's a nice opening round for the Senior Open.”

Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els were in the group another shot behind. Justin Leonard, who made the cut last week in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, was among those at 69.

Steven Alker, 33-30 – 63 (7 under)

• The 53-year-old seeks his 10th win on PGA TOUR Champions (88th start)
  • Would move into T35 on the Champions Tour all-time wins list
• Seeks his second win of the 2025 season (13th start)
  • Previous win: Cologuard Classic (March 7-9)
  • Would be his third multi-win season on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Alker’s multi-win seasons: four wins, 2022; two wins, 2023
  • Has finished in the top 10 in 10 of his 12 starts this season
  • Entered the week No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Looks to become the fourth multiple winner of the 2025 season, joining Miguel Angel Jiménez (four wins), Ángel Cabrera (three wins) and Steve Allan (two wins)
• Seeks his second major title on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Previous win: 2022 Senior PGA Championship
• This is his 14th time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 4-for-13 converting those into victories (1-for-2 in 72-hole events)
• Carded his low 18-hole score of the 2025 season (38th round)
  • Previous low: 65 (four times)
• Matched the second-lowest 18-hole score of the 2025 season by any player on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Lowest round of 2025: 62 (Jerry Kelly, Mitsubishi Electric Classic, 1st Round)
  • Today was the 10th round of 63 carded by a player this season on PGA TOUR Champions
• Making his fourth appearance at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, he has finished T3 (2022), T11 (2023) and T5 (2024)

Other notes

• Mark Hensby (second) birdied Nos. 1-5 en route to 6-under 64. His front-nine 29 matched the low 9-hole score of the 2025 season on PGA TOUR Champions (previous instance: Jerry Kelly, Mitsubishi Electric Classic, first round, back nine).
  • The 54-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (70th start).
  • Last win: 2023 Invited Celebrity Classic
• Defending champion K.J. Choi (T3) opened with 4-under 66.
  • Choi looks to become the fourth multi-time winner of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open since 2003, joining Bernhard Langer (four wins), Tom Watson (three wins) and Loren Roberts (two wins).
  • Since 2003, no player has successfully defended his title at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.
• Joe Durant (T3) carded 4-under 66. The 61-year-old seeks his sixth win on PGA TOUR Champions (256th start).
  • Last win: 2024 Cologuard Classic
• Nine players are T5 at 3-under, including World Golf Hall of Fame members Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen along with Charles Schwab Cup leader Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
  • Harrington won the most recent major contested on PGA TOUR Champions (U.S. Senior Open).
  • Jiménez, making his 200th start on PGA TOUR Champions, won the ISPS HANDA Senior Open in 2018.
• Nobuhiro Masuda withdrew during the first round.