As the third round of the PGA Championship heats up at Aronimink Golf Club, one name is popping up on leaderboards and in conversations: Alex Smalley. The 28-year-old has never won a PGA Tour event, but he's suddenly just two rounds away from a major breakthrough. And as fans dig into his story, they're discovering that his biggest fan—and secret weapon—is his mom, Marie.

Marie Smalley, a recently retired chemist, has become an unexpected star of the tournament. During Friday's coverage, the Golf Channel highlighted her unique role in Alex's career. She's not just a supportive parent in the gallery—she's his stat tracker, business manager, and even served as his caddie at the 2021 John Deere Classic.

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“I do his business stuff, I do his stats. That’s what I do when I’m texting all the time on the course,” Marie told the PGA Tour in 2023. “It helps to keep me focused so my head’s not racing and I’m not just going crazy. Gives me something to do.”

For Alex, having his mom in the mix is a grounding force. “She’s a mom, right? Any mom is going to get excited. She’s been on the highs with me and on the lows,” he said. Those highs and lows have included everything from the thrill of competing on the PGA Tour to the emotional weight of watching her son live his dream. “It only hits me every now and then,” Marie admitted. “At the Scottish Open in 2022, I was walking down 16 and I just started crying. ‘Oh my God he’s on the PGA Tour.’ Every now and then I get that feeling.”

The Smalley family story adds a human touch to a tournament that has seen its share of drama, including Rory McIlroy blasting the Aronimink setup and Bryson DeChambeau dealing with a bizarre staircase ruling. But while the big names grapple with course conditions and controversies, Smalley is quietly making his mark.

He still has work to do. More established veterans are erasing their deficits in round three, and if he doesn't finish under par on Saturday, he might not make the featured groups on Sunday. Still, a top-20 finish would be his best performance at a major and could open doors to future top-tier events.

Smalley tees off at 2:40 p.m. ET alongside Maverick McNealy. Whether he contends for the title or not, one thing is already clear: Marie Smalley has won the hearts of golf fans everywhere.