Alex Smalley held a two-shot lead after a chaotic third round at the PGA Championship, recovering from a poor start with six birdies in his last 10 holes for a 2-under 68. He stayed composed, downplaying the pressure despite chasing his first PGA TOUR win. The leaderboard was unusually tight, with 14 players sharing the lead at some point and 28 players within two shots mid-round.
Major champions including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele remain close behind. Smalley leads at 6-under, with Rahm and others two back, and McIlroy three behind after a strong 66. The tightly packed field sets up an unpredictable final round, where “anybody’s tournament” remains possible.