Alex Smalley 2-shot PGA lead

Alex Smalley will start Sunday with the lead at the PGA Championship, but almost no margin for error. The 29-year-old American shot a 2-under 68 in the third round on Saturday, May 16, to get to 6-under 204 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Five players — Aaron Rai, Ludvig Aberg, Nick Taylor, Jon Rahm and Matti Schmid — were tied for second at 4-under after 54 holes. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion and world No. 1, was five shots back at 1-under, while Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele were three back at 3-under. ### How did Smalley get in front? Smalley closed with three birdies in his last four holes on Saturday to turn a crowded leaderboard into a two-shot lead. The PGA Championship’s official recap said he played the back nine in 4-under 31 after going out in 2-over 37. (pgachampionship.com) The 18th hole gave him separation. Reuters reported that Smalley birdied the final hole to seize the outright lead after a day when as many as seven players shared the top spot and 14 players held at least a share of the lead at some point, according to AP’s account of the round. (pgachampionship.com) Smalley said the conditions changed during the round. “The wind was certainly up when we first started,” he said, according to the PGA Championship recap, adding that the back nine became more manageable as the wind eased. ### Why does a two-shot lead not look secure here? (thestar.com.my) The leaderboard was unusually compressed. The PGA Championship site listed 22 players within four shots of the lead after the third round, and Reuters said 43 players were within five shots before Sunday’s final round. (pgachampionship.com) Scheffler described that congestion in blunt terms. Reuters reported that he said the leaderboard at Aronimink was unlike anything he had seen before, and called it “anybody’s tournament.” Xander Schauffele, the 2024 PGA champion, also pointed to the number of contenders. “It’s a jam-packed leaderboard,” Schauffele said, according to the PGA Championship recap. (pgachampionship.com) ### Who is closest to Smalley when play begins? Matti Schmid is tied for second at 4-under and will play in the final group with Smalley. (thestar.com.my) Aaron Rai, Ludvig Aberg, Nick Taylor and Jon Rahm also began Sunday two shots back, according to the official leaderboard. Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele opened the day at 3-under, three behind. (pgachampionship.com) Justin Rose, Joaquin Niemann, Hideki Matsuyama and Cameron Smith were among the players at 2-under, while Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and several others started at 1-under. The names deeper on the board matter because the course had not yielded separation through three rounds. (pgachampionship.com) AP said the final round featured a mix of established major champions and players still seeking a first PGA Tour title. ### What makes Smalley and Schmid unusual as a final pairing? (pgachampionship.com) Smalley entered the weekend without a PGA Tour victory. The PGA Championship’s official story said he had never previously held a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. Schmid also arrived in the final pairing without a PGA Tour win. (apnews.com) Golf Digest reported that Smalley and Schmid formed the first final pairing at the PGA Championship in 23 years made up of two players without a PGA Tour victory. That leaves Sunday with two parallel races: Smalley trying to convert his first 54-hole lead in a major, and a large group of more decorated pursuers trying to erase a small deficit over 18 holes. (pgachampionship.com) That is an inference from the leaderboard and player records. ### When do the key groups go off on Sunday? The official PGA Championship leaderboard listed Smalley and Schmid as the last pairing at 11:35 a.m. (golfdigest.com) EDT. Nick Taylor and Jon Rahm were scheduled for 11:25 a.m., and Aaron Rai with Ludvig Aberg for 11:15 a.m. McIlroy and Schauffele were set to tee off at 11:05 a.m., while Scheffler and David Puig were scheduled for 9:05 a.m. (pgachampionship.com) The official leaderboard also showed Aronimink as the site for the championship’s final day on Sunday, May 17. Sunday’s play at Aronimink will decide the 108th PGA Championship, with Smalley starting at 6-under, Schmid alongside him at 4-under, and Rahm, McIlroy and Scheffler among the chasers already on the course or set to go. (pgachampionship.com)