The stage is set for a wild final round at the PGA Championship. With 21 players within four strokes of the lead, Sunday promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions at Aronimink Golf Club. Alex Smalley, who has been steady all week, holds a two-shot advantage, but the chasing pack is loaded with firepower.
Smalley has been the model of consistency, shooting 69 or better in all three rounds. He’s the only player in the field to achieve that feat. However, the pressure is on: he’s never won a PGA Tour event, and his best finish in a major is outside the top 10. That’s where his wife Marie’s stat tracking might give him an edge.
Joining him in the final pairing is Matti Schmid, a PGA Championship debutant who shot a stunning 65 on Saturday to leap into second place. Like Smalley, Schmid has no prior top-10 finishes in majors, making this a battle of relative unknowns against a backdrop of superstars.
But don’t count out the big names lurking just behind. Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele are both at -3, while Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg sit at -4. The leaderboard is packed with major champions and Tour winners who know how to close. McIlroy’s frustrations with the course setup haven’t stopped him from staying in contention.
Full Final Round Pairings and Tee Times
Here are the final 11 pairings for Sunday, with tee times (ET) and scores under par:
- 12:45 – Hideki Matsuyama (-2), Chris Gotterup (-2)
- 12:55 – Min Woo Lee (-2), Max Greyserman (-2)
- 1:05 – Ben Griffin (-2), Cameron Smith (-2)
- 1:15 – Martin Kaymer (-2), Bud Cauley (-2)
- 1:25 – Justin Rose (-2), Joaquin Niemann (-2)
- 1:35 – Kristoffer Reitan (-2), Chris Kirk (-2)
- 1:55 – Patrick Reed (-3), Maverick McNealy (-3)
- 2:05 – Rory McIlroy (-3), Xander Schauffele (-3)
- 2:15 – Aaron Rai (-4), Ludvig Aberg (-4)
- 2:25 – Nick Taylor (-4), Jon Rahm (-4)
- 2:35 – Alex Smalley (-6), Matti Schmid (-4)
The featured group of Smalley and Schmid will tee off at 2:35 p.m. ET. Both are seeking their first major breakthrough, but the history of the PGA Championship shows that Sunday is often a day for surprises. Smalley’s steady play has kept him in control, but one bad hole could change everything.
With 11 players shooting 66 or better on Saturday, the message is clear: no lead is safe. The final round is shaping up to be a thriller, where experience meets hunger, and the trophy is anyone’s for the taking.
