If major championships were graded by the number of golfers in contention heading into Sunday, then the PGA Championship at Aronimink would be, without question, the best tournament we've ever seen.
With 54 holes down and 18 to play, a record 22 players are within four shots of Alex Smalley's lead. According to Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group, that number shatters the previous mark of 18 golfers within four shots entering the final round of a PGA Championship.
Smalley's reward for claiming his first 54-hole lead ever in an OWGR-sanctioned event is the challenge of holding off a chase pack filled with major champions such as Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Patrick Reed.
| Position | Players | Total to par | Round 3 score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Smalley | -6 | 68 |
| T-2 | Jon Rahm | -4 | 67 |
| T-2 | Ludvig Aberg | -4 | 68 |
| T-2 | Matti Schmid | -4 | 65 |
| T-2 | Nick Taylor | -4 | 65 |
| T-2 | Aaron Rai | -4 | 67 |
| T-7 | Rory McIlroy | -3 | 66 |
| T-7 | Xander Schauffele | -3 | 66 |
| T-7 | Patrick Reed | -3 | 67 |
| T-7 | Maverick McNealy | -3 | 71 |
Smalley showed some nerves Saturday in just his fifth major, bogeying three of his opening four holes. His first tee shot sliced so far right on No. 1 that the broadcast almost lost track of the ball before it stopped rolling.
However, Smalley righted the ship with brilliant play as the day progressed, birdieing six of his final 10 holes, including just the second birdie on the 18th in the final two hours of play.
Aronimink finally yielded some low scores after the challenging setup put the field in a blender through the opening two rounds. Although Nick Taylor and Matti Schmid, two of the golfers tied for second, fired 65s on Saturday, it's Rahm and Ludvig Aberg among the chase group who will most catch Smalley's attention.
Despite Rahm missing a 3-footer on 18 that would've put him just one shot off the lead, the two-time major champion said he was pleased with his overall effort Saturday.
"It's an extremely difficult golf course. Today is probably the easiest setup of the three, but still with the wind the way it's going and the greens right now, you have to play really good golf to give yourself a chance out there," Rahm said. "As far as I'm concerned, that was a fantastic round of golf, and I'm thrilled to be in a good position for tomorrow."
If Rahm's the scariest name on the board just two back, McIlroy serves as the big fish among the golfers three shots behind. The six-time major winner electrified the crowd early Saturday to move 23 places up the board and sit tied for seventh, which represents a huge turnaround from Thursday, when McIlroy sat tied for 105th after a 4-over 74.
While McIlroy's 66 left him a couple shots shy of his 5-under target, he sits well within range of making a run for his third PGA Championship. McIlroy attributed Saturday's improved scoring to players' growing familiarity with the course.
"You learn the course as you go along, and guys are just getting more comfortable with certain clubs off tees or having a better idea of the greens and where to miss and where not to miss," McIlroy said. "I just think we all, as every day goes on, we just keep learning a little bit more about the golf course and getting a little more comfortable, and that's what you're seeing today.
Scottie Scheffler isn't on the first page of the leaderboard, but the defending champion still has a shot to retain the Wanamaker Trophy if he can fix some significant putting issues. The World No. 1 hasn't made a putt over 10 feet in his last 44 holes and sits five back at 1-under.
However, Scheffler is no stranger to staging an epic comeback, as evidenced by his close call at Augusta in April, finishing second despite trailing by 12 shots at the midway mark. Given how packed the leaderboard is entering Sunday, Scheffler is still hopeful of his chances.
"I've never seen a leaderboard like this, this bunched up," Scheffler said. "Going into tomorrow, it's quite literally anybody's tournament."
