NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.
Get ready for an exciting final round at the PGA Championship at Aronimink this Sunday.
Xander Schauffele referred to the tournament as offering “absolutely free competition” as it heads into its last round.
This past Saturday was intense, described by Schauffele as having “atrocious pin placements” that caused anxiety among the players. However, the third round turned out to be quite memorable.
Initially, the day brought a flurry of birdies thanks to calmer winds and better pin positions, leading to a competitive atmosphere among players. But as the afternoon wore on, stronger winds returned, creating a challenging mental game for those in contention.
The leaderboard is exceptionally crowded this year. Alex Smalley, ranked 78th in the world and hoping for his first win, rebounded from a rough start to claim a two-stroke lead with a score of 68, finishing at 6 under.
Following him are several players tied at 4 under, including Jon Rahm, who aims to be the first Spanish winner of the PGA Championship, along with Ludwig Oberg, Aaron Rye, Nick Taylor, and Matty Schmidt. Four more players sit at 3 under, which includes Rory McIlroy, Schauffele, Patrick Reed, and Maverick McNeely.
Twelve players are tied at 2 under, among them Chris Gotterup, Max Glaserman, and Cam Smith, who has struggled in previous majors this season. Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, had a tough day on the greens but leads a group at 1 under that features three-time champion Brooks Koepka.
In total, there are 30 players within five strokes of the lead, and it’s shaping up to be quite a competitive final round.
As Scheffler remarked, “I’ve never seen a leaderboard as organized as this.” He noted that Sunday will be wide open, with many players in contention. Historically, 11 of the last 14 winners have emerged from the final pairings.
Smalley will be paired with Schmidt as they head into the last round. Smalley expressed that winning on the PGA Tour is a dream for many young golfers. “We try to downplay it, but it’s a big deal,” he said.
Saturday’s round was filled with highs and lows, with impressive scores where only one player had hit the 65 mark in the first two days. Schauffele himself said he was just trying to stay positive amid a packed leaderboard.
McIlroy, who shot a 66, mentioned how the course setup over the first two days was designed to be tough, making scoring difficult. “It can be frustrating,” he commented, “but it also makes for an exciting championship.”
Smalley has been the only player to shoot in the 60s for all three rounds. He added, “I hope to keep the momentum going and see where that takes me.”
Saturdays are often called “travel days” on the PGA Tour as players aim to position themselves well for Sunday.
Birdies were abundant early on Saturday, with top performers like Michael Kim and Chris Kirk making impressive starts, resulting in an aggressive approach to the course that had challenged players on previous days.
Reed mentioned the difficulty, stating it was a “great test” for the best players in the world, suggesting that tough conditions bring out the top competitors. So, buckle up; it’s going to be an exciting finish.
