US PGA Championship leader Alex Smalley began his final round with a host of heavyweight challengers breathing down his neck, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama, and Scottie Scheffler.
Smalley's Surprise Lead
Smalley, who has yet to win a PGA Tour event, seized control of the championship on Saturday evening by birdieing four of the last six holes to open a two-shot lead at Aronimink Golf Club. However, with an extraordinary 21 players within four shots of his six-under-par score, including numerous major champions, the final day promised intense competition.
McIlroy and Others in Pursuit
McIlroy, seeking his seventh major title and a second consecutive win, started three strokes back and one adrift of a crowded group at four under. That group featured two-time major winner Jon Rahm, England's Aaron Rai, and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg. World number one Scottie Scheffler struggled to generate momentum, five shots off the pace after a bogey at the fifth erased an early birdie.
Teeing off two-and-a-half hours before Smalley, Scheffler picked up a birdie at the ninth to turn four behind. Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, made an early charge with three birdies in the first five holes to join the group at four under, but a bogey at the seventh halted his progress.
Former Open champion Cameron Smith, two-time major winner Justin Thomas, and Friday's co-leader Maverick McNealy also reached four under, while Justin Rose—who made the cut thanks to a stunning chip-in eagle on Friday—opened with a birdie to move three back after a brilliant 65 on Saturday.
McIlroy and playing partner Xander Schauffele, the 2024 champion, both found the rough at the first, but McIlroy saved par with a testing putt.
Low Rounds of the Week
American Kurt Kitayama posted the best round of the week, a seven-under-par 63, which tied the lowest final round in major history, setting the clubhouse lead at three under. England's Matt Fitzpatrick, a pre-tournament favourite after three PGA Tour wins this season, ended a tough week on a high note with a five-under 65.
