McNealy, Smalley share 36-hole lead at PGA Championship

Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley reached the halfway point of the PGA Championship tied for the lead on Friday, with both players at 4-under-par 136 after two rounds at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The official PGA Championship leaderboard showed the pair one stroke ahead of a group at 3-under and two ahead of defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who was tied for ninth at 2-under after 36 holes. (pgachampionship.com) Aronimink’s scoring conditions kept the field compressed, with multiple major champions and top-ranked players still within reach entering the weekend. ### How did McNealy and Smalley get to the top? (pgachampionship.com) Maverick McNealy shot a 3-under 67 on Friday to join Alex Smalley at the top of the leaderboard. Yahoo Sports reported that McNealy used an eagle and three birdies in his second round before late bogeys still left him at 4-under for the championship. Alex Smalley posted a 1-under 69 in the early wave and held his place despite a turbulent inward nine. AP’s round report said Smalley, playing only his fifth major championship, recovered from three straight bogeys after the turn and finished with a birdie to share the lead. (pgachampionship.com) ### Why was 4-under enough to lead after two rounds? The PGA Championship’s own recap said the 4-under total was the highest 36-hole leading score in the event since 2012, underscoring how difficult Aronimink played over the first two days. The official leaderboard showed only seven players at 3-under or better after Friday’s play. (sports.yahoo.com) Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square hosted its first PGA Championship in 64 years, according to AP and the championship’s coverage. Reports from the PGA Championship cited wind, cool temperatures and demanding hole locations as factors that kept anyone from pulling away. (pgatour.com) ### Which contenders were still close behind? Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Gotterup, Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee and Max Greyserman were tied for third at 3-under, the official leaderboard showed. Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young, David Puig, Harris English, Si Woo Kim and Ludvig Aberg were part of the group at 2-under. (pgachampionship.com) Rory McIlroy was tied for 30th at 1-over after two rounds, according to the official leaderboard. Jon Rahm and Patrick Cantlay were among those at 1-under, leaving a large group within a few shots of the lead entering Saturday. (pgatour.com) ### What stood out about the two co-leaders? Alex Smalley entered the week without a PGA Tour victory, and NBC Sports’ account of the round said he had made 140 tour starts without a regular-season win. AP also described him as a long shot who had not previously been a fixture near the top of major leaderboards. (pgachampionship.com) Maverick McNealy brought a different résumé but similarly limited major-championship experience near the top. Yahoo Sports said McNealy has one PGA Tour win, the 2024 RSM Classic, while AP reported he had never been among the top 25 in a major through 36 holes before Friday. (pgachampionship.com) ### How crowded is the weekend race? The official leaderboard showed 15 players within two shots of the lead after 36 holes. A Southern California News Group report said that was the biggest two-shot weekend logjam at a major since 2002. (nbcsports.com) That congestion left the championship open heading into the third round. The PGA Championship schedule page lists the tournament at Aronimink from May 11-17, with play continuing Saturday, May 16, before Sunday’s final round decides the Wanamaker Trophy. (pgachampionship.com 1) (pgachampionship.com 2) (sports.yahoo.com)