Alex Smalley Leads US PGA Championship by Two Shots Entering Final Round

Alex Smalley holds a two-shot lead at six under par entering the final round of the 2026 US PGA Championship after carding a 68 in the third round. The leaderboard shifted repeatedly during the third round on Saturday at Aronimink, with many players in the field recording birdies to briefly share the lead before following with bogeys.

When play concluded, Smalley, a 29-year-old from North Carolina ranked 78th in the world with no prior professional wins, stood alone at the top. Five players trailed him at four under par. Smalley recovered from four bogeys in his first eight holes to play the remaining 10 holes in five under par, including a birdie on the par-five 16th that gave him sole possession of the lead.

He had been part of a six-way tie for first until that point. It marked the first time he has held the 54-hole lead in a professional event.

Rahm is among the group at four under par. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed sit at three under, one shot further back. Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Cameron Smith and Hideki Matsuyama are at two under, while Scottie Scheffler is five shots off the lead at one under.

Twenty-one players are within four shots of the lead, including eight major champions. Scheffler said he had never seen a leaderboard this tightly bunched in a major championship. "I’ve never seen anything like this," Scheffler said. "I’ve never seen a leaderboard this bunched up.

The tournament had drawn criticism from players after the first two rounds for difficult pin positions. " McIlroy, who opened with a round that left him tied for 105th, shot 66 on Saturday to return to contention. "I’ve climbed my way out of that hole and I’m proud of myself for doing that," McIlroy said.

McIlroy noted the adjustment after earlier complaints created what he described as an entertaining championship despite the challenges for competitors.