Steven Alker could clinch the Charles Schwab Cup before the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

The 51-year-old New Zealander is set to make his TimberTech Championship title defense in the second of three Charles Schwab Playoff events. 

Alker has put together an all-time Cinderella story. In the summer of 2021, shortly after turning 50, he Monday qualified for the Boeing Classic and finished T-7 to get into the following event. He then recorded six straight top-10s before notching his maiden PGA Tour Champions win at the TimberTech Championship. 

But he wasn't a one-hit-wonder. This year, Alker has four victories, 12 top-threes and 16 top-10s in 21 starts.

After opening the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs last week with a victory at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, he extended his advantage in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup standings, now leading No. 2 Padraig Harrington by 749,960 points. 

With double points awarded during the playoffs, Alker could clinch the season-long title a week early by successfully defending his TimberTech title. 

However, along with a win, there's a slew of scenarios this week that could hand Alker the Schwab Cup before the PGA Tour Champions' season finale in Phoenix, according to the PGA Tour:

• A solo second by Alker and Harrington finishing solo fifth, two-way T4 or worse. 
• A solo third and Harrington placing solo sixth, two-way T-5 or worse and Jerry Kelly (fourth in the Schwab Cup standings) finishing solo second or worse.
• A solo fourth and Harrington finishing solo seventh, two-way T-6 or worse and Kelly posting a solo second or worse.
• A solo fifth and Harrington finishing solo 13th, three-way T-12 or worse and Kelly finishing solo second or worse.
• A solo sixth and Harrington finishing solo 24th, two-way T-23 or worse and Kelly finishing solo second or worse.
• A solo seventh and Harrington finishing solo 35th or worse and Kelly finishing solo second or worse.