Alex Smalley is staring down the most intense Sunday of his professional career. The 29-year-old, still searching for his first tour victory, holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. Smalley fired a superb third-round 68 to reach 6-under par, breaking clear of a crowded leaderboard just as the course began to yield scoring opportunities.
Right behind him is a terrifying chasing pack. Five players are deadlocked in a tie for second at 4-under par: Jon Rahm, Ludvig Åberg, Aaron Rai, Matti Schmid, and Nick Taylor. The field is heavily congested, with Alex Smalley surviving the historic 54-hole leaderboard logjam to secure his slim cushion going into Sunday. Before Smalley pulled ahead on the 16th hole, a six-way tie for first place threatened to break the all-time record for a 54-hole major lead tie.
The shifting conditions at Aronimink completely flipped the script on Saturday. After early rounds featured punishingly difficult pin positions that resulted in the highest 36-hole score to par to lead the PGA Championship in 14 years, warmer weather and more accessible pins allowed the field to attack. Rory McIlroy took full advantage, shooting a brilliant 66 to reach 3-under par. It is a stunning reversal for McIlroy, who sat in 105th place after a disastrous opening round. If he pulls off the victory, he will become just the fifth player in golf history to win a major championship after being 50th or worse at the end of the first round.
McIlroy softened his earlier frustration with the punishing course setup after his climb up the leaderboard. He admitted that while the early conditions frustrated players, the tight scoring “creates a hell of an entertaining championship.” Other historical stakes are on the line, as Aaron Rai at 4-under has a chance to snap a century-old drought of an Englishman failing to win the PGA Championship.
While the chasers found momentum, defending champion Scottie Scheffler stalled out. The world No. 1 struggled heavily on the greens, missing six putts inside 10 feet. Following a strong opening 67, Scheffler posted consecutive 71s. He now sits five shots off the lead in a tie for 23rd at 1-under par, leaving him with a steep uphill climb as the final groupings tee off.