Smalley takes solo lead as pack closes in – PGA Championship

Round 3

Alex Smalley tops a congested leaderboard heading into the final day of the PGA Championship, with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm among the major stars in the chasing pack.

The halfway co-leader recovered from a nightmare start to his third round to mix seven birdies with five bogeys in a two-under 68, giving him a two-shot advantage over a five-way tie for second that contains Ryder Cup teammates Jon Rahm and Ludvig Åberg.

Aaron Rai is also one back as he bids to become the first English winner of the PGA Championship since 1919, with Matti Schmid and Nick Taylor completing the group on four under, with Rory McIlroy’s three strokes behind as he chases back-to-back major victories.

McIlroy is joined on three under by American trio Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed and Maverick McNealy, while Justin Rose is four back and defending champion Scottie Scheffler fell five behind after a second successive 71.

A remarkable Saturday saw 14 different players hold at least a share of the lead at some point, with just five strokes separating the top 30 players heading into Sunday’s final round.

Just eight strokes separated the halfway leaders from the cut mark after gusting winds and tough pins led to a congested leaderboard, with the early starters on Saturday morning capitalising on the best scoring conditions.

Chris Kirk threatened to equal the lowest round in men’s major history before closing his third-round 65 with a double bogey, while Rose – who chipped in for eagle to make the cut on Friday – made five birdies on his front nine to also get to two under.

McIlroy was five off the halfway lead but briefly joined top spot after following a front-nine 32 with birdies at the 11th and driveable 13th, with the world No 2 insisting he still had a chance to claim victory despite bogeying the penultimate hole of his round.

“I’ve climbed my way out of that hole [slow start] a little bit,” said McIlroy, looking to win the PGA Championship for a third time. “I’m proud of myself for doing that, but there’s one more day left. I feel like I still did enough to think I have a chance.”

Rahm sits one back despite bogeying the final hole of his third-round 67 and Åberg moved to four under with a two-under 68, while Schmid birdied three of his last five holes and Taylor posted a bogey-free 65 to all share second spot.

Scheffler – chasing a fifth major title in as many seasons – dropped outside the top 20 after struggling with his putter during a one-over 71, while Jordan Spieth’s hopes of completing the career Grand Slam look over for another year after a level-par 70 saw him fall seven behind on one over.

Smalley, who held a share of the lead after both the first two rounds, bogeyed three of his first four holes and cancelled out a birdie at the seventh with a dropped shot at the eighth.

The world No 78 responded with back-to-back birdies around the turn and picking up another at the driveable par-four 13th, before holing from 25 feet at the 15th and two-putting from 50 feet at the par-five next to briefly go two ahead.

Smalley failed to get up and down from the sand to save par at the 17th but made amends with a 15-foot birdie at the last, securing the American – still yet to win on the PGA Tour – his first 54-hole lead as a professional.