Alex Smalley, playing in the final group, bogeyed three of his first four holes, then played the rest of the course at five-under to finish Saturday's third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club with a two-under 68, for an aggregate six-under par 204, for a two-shot lead entering Sunday's final round.
It's a crowded field of challengers. Five players are at 4-under, including Jon Rahm and Ludwig Âberg; four are at 3-under, including Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed; and an astonishing 12 at 2-under. The old adage is true, that anyone within five shots of the lead has a chance, then any of 29 golfers could be named champion on Sunday.
Aronimink heard criticism from several golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, after Friday's second round, complaining about difficult pin positions. The PGA responded by moving up tees and centering pins on several holes Saturday. It didn't matter. The golf course played easier for the morning and early afternoon tee times, due to ideal weather, and four rounds of five-under 65s were posted, but no one could separate. Anyone teeing off in the final pairings had a rough go, battling gusting winds that hindered scoring.
My take: No way anyone at even par is winning this thing, and the one-unders have really no chance — just too many golfers to get past. One would have to shoot 62 to have any chance and this course does not give up 62s. That still leaves 20 golfers between two and four shots from Smalley, who has the benefit of playing with Germany's Matti Schmid in the final pairing. No disrespect to Schmid, but there's no name recognition there that's going to draw a rooting interest or especially large crowds that either golfer will have to endure or overcome. Weather forecast is hot and dry. Lower winds. Greens will be trickier as they get firm for the afternoon tee times. Should be an exciting finish.
THE ASYLUM
Smalley takes PGA lead
Alex Smalley, playing in the final group, bogeyed three of his first four holes, then played the rest of the course at five-under to finish Saturday's third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club with a two-under 68, for an aggregate six-under par 204, for a two-shot lead entering Sunday's final round.
It's a crowded field of challengers. Five players are at 4-under, including Jon Rahm and Ludwig Âberg; four are at 3-under, including Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed; and an astonishing 12 at 2-under. The old adage is true, that anyone within five shots of the lead has a chance, then any of 29 golfers could be named champion on Sunday.
Aronimink heard criticism from several golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, after Friday's second round, complaining about difficult pin positions. The PGA responded by moving up tees and centering pins on several holes Saturday. It didn't matter. The golf course played easier for the morning and early afternoon tee times, due to ideal weather, and four rounds of five-under 65s were posted, but no one could separate. Anyone teeing off in the final pairings had a rough go, battling gusting winds that hindered scoring.
My take: No way anyone at even par is winning this thing, and the one-unders have really no chance — just too many golfers to get past. One would have to shoot 62 to have any chance and this course does not give up 62s. That still leaves 20 golfers between two and four shots from Smalley, who has the benefit of playing with Germany's Matti Schmid in the final pairing. No disrespect to Schmid, but there's no name recognition there that's going to draw a rooting interest or especially large crowds that either golfer will have to endure or overcome. Weather forecast is hot and dry. Lower winds. Greens will be trickier as they get firm for the afternoon tee times. Should be an exciting finish.
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