Steven Alker with a 65 builds 4-shot lead at Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix

Steven Alker surged ahead of the competition on Saturday, carding a spectacular 6-under 65 and finishing with a birdie to stretch his lead to four shots heading into the final round of the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Alker was deadlocked with Marco Dawson at the start of the day, but Dawson fell off the pace on the front nine, ultimately losing contention on the back nine at Phoenix Country Club.

Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington’s hopes dwindled after a double bogey on the 14th hole and a tough scramble for a bogey on the par-5 closing hole.

With a total score of 17-under 196, Alker positioned himself with a four-shot advantage over Alex Cejka, who carded a 68. Harrington and Thongchai Jaidee, both posting 69, trailed by five.

Despite his significant lead, Alker remains cautious, acknowledging the pristine greens and ideal weather conditions that could still allow a late surge from the competition.

“Still the mindset is there’s a 63, 62 out there, who knows?” he said. “So I’ve just got to keep pedal to the metal.”

Alker’s dominance on the front nine has been exceptional, recording a 14-under par over three rounds compared to just 3 under on the back nine.

On the line for Alker is a substantial $1 million payoff on Sunday. The first prize amounts to $528,000, one of the most significant payouts on the PGA Tour Champions, coupled with a $500,000 bonus for finishing second in the Charles Schwab Cup points race.

Notably, Steve Stricker secured the Schwab Cup with his six victories this year, three of them majors, but did not participate in the postseason due to his father’s hospitalization.

Harrington also has a shot at finishing at No. 2, but his odds took a considerable hit on the back nine with three dropped shots on two holes.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Alker with a 65 builds 4-shot lead at Charles Schwab Cup Championship