Alex Smalley birdies 18th to move to solo second and collect $822,600

Alex Smalley’s last putt on Sunday changed more than his place on the leaderboard. The 29-year-old American rolled in a birdie on the 18th hole at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17 to move from a tie for third into a share of second at the PGA Championship, according to the official tournament leaderboard. Golf Digest calculated that the putt added $822,600 to Smalley’s payday, pushing his prize money to $1.8 million from what would have been $981,400 in a four-way tie for third. Aaron Rai still won the championship at 9-under par, but Smalley’s finish became one of the clearest examples of how much a single shot can change in a major. ### How much did that one putt actually change? Golf Digest reported that Smalley’s birdie moved him from a four-way tie for third into a tie for second, and that swing alone was worth $822,600. The magazine said second place paid $1.8 million in its calculation, while a four-way tie for third would have paid $981,400. (pgachampionship.com) The PGA Championship’s official prize-money breakdown listed second place at $2.214 million from a $20.5 million purse. The event’s purse was a record for the championship, according to the PGA Championship website and Golf Channel. ### Where did Smalley finish on the final board? (golfdigest.com) The PGA Championship’s official leaderboard showed Aaron Rai winning at 9-under and Alex Smalley finishing at 6-under alongside Jon Rahm. Golf Channel’s final results page also listed Rai three shots clear of the runners-up. PGA Championship coverage published by the tournament said Rai closed out the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on May 17. (pgachampionship.com) That left Smalley as one of the two players nearest to the winner on the final board. ### Why did the number get so much attention? (pgachampionship.com) Golf Digest said the $822,600 increase by itself exceeded any previous single paycheck of Smalley’s PGA Tour career. The outlet reported that his previous biggest payday had been $652,000 for a tie for second at the 2023 John Deere Classic. (pgachampionship.com) Yahoo Sports and other final-round coverage had already centered on Smalley as one of the players in contention entering Sunday, which made the 18th-hole finish stand out even after Rai had secured the title. ### Who else did the putt affect? Golf Digest reported that Smalley’s birdie also changed the payouts for several other contenders. (golfdigest.com) The outlet said Jon Rahm gave up $412,000 by moving from solo second into a tie for second, while Justin Thomas, Matti Schmid and Ludvig Aberg each lost $137,534 as they dropped from a tie for third to a tie for fourth. (sports.yahoo.com) The same report said the birdie also secured Smalley a place in next year’s Masters through the PGA Championship’s top-four invitation category, while his finish also guaranteed a return to the PGA Championship under the top-15-and-ties exemption. ### What comes next for Smalley after Aronimink? (golfdigest.com) The PGA Championship result is now part of Smalley’s record as the golf calendar moves toward the U.S. Open next month. Golf Digest reported separately that Rai’s victory solved his own U.S. Open qualification issue through major-champion exemptions, while Smalley’s top finish delivered major-entry benefits of its own. (golfdigest.com) The official leaderboard and prize-money pages remain the clearest reference points for the final standings from May 17 at Aronimink: Rai first at 9-under, Smalley and Rahm next at 6-under, and a record $20.5 million purse distributed across the field. (pgachampionship.com) (golfdigest.com)