Smalley holds two-shot lead at US PGA as conditions ease at Aronimink

American golfer Alex Smalley leads the 2026 US PGA Championship by two shots following the third round at Aronimink Golf Club. Smalley sits at six under par after carding a two-under 68 on Saturday, establishing a narrow advantage in what has become a highly congested leaderboard. Thirty players remain within five shots of the lead as the tournament heads into the final round.

The third round, traditionally referred to as 'moving day', saw significant movement across the field, with 14 players holding at least a share of the lead at some point during the day. The shift in momentum follows criticism of the course setup during the opening two days, which many competitors described as overly severe. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler had previously labelled some of Friday's pin positions as "absurd", prompting the PGA of America to adjust tee positions and make several pins more accessible for the weekend rounds.

These adjustments, combined with more benign weather conditions, resulted in lower scores and a crowded pack. Rory McIlroy, who began the weekend outside the top 100 after a four-over 74 on Thursday, surged up the leaderboard with a 67 on Saturday. McIlroy now sits three shots off the lead at three under par, revitalising his campaign following his recent success at the Masters.

Other major winners also made significant strides. Jon Rahm carded a 67 to finish two shots behind Smalley, maintaining his push for the third leg of a career Grand Slam. Justin Rose shot a superb 65 to reach two under par, keeping his hopes alive for a second major title. Meanwhile, Aaron Rai sits at four under par, alongside Ludvig Aberg, Nick Taylor, and Matti Schmid, aiming to end a 107-year wait for an English winner of the championship.

Not all established stars benefited from the eased conditions. Scottie Scheffler, who won the title last year with a 65 in the final round, struggled on Saturday, carding a 71. He now sits five shots off the pace, leaving him outside the immediate contention as the field narrows for Sunday's decisive round.