Alex Smalley leads PGA Championship by two shots at Aronimink

The leaderboard at Aronimink changed hands repeatedly on Saturday as players traded birdies and bogeys. When the round ended, Alex Smalley, a 29-year-old from North Carolina ranked 78th in the world, stood alone at six under par, two shots ahead of a five-way tie for second.

Twenty-one players sit within four shots of the lead, including eight major champions. Jon Rahm is at four under, while Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed are at three under. Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Cameron Smith and Hideki Matsuyama are at two under. Scottie Scheffler is five shots back.

Smalley played the final round with Maverick McNealy. He was tied for the lead until a birdie at the par-five 16th gave him sole possession. He had four bogeys in his first eight holes but played the next 10 in five under par. It is the first time he has held the 54-hole lead in a professional event.

Aaron Rai is part of the group at four under. He stayed at five under until a double bogey at the 18th. An Englishman has not won this event in more than a century.

Scheffler said he had never seen a leaderboard this bunched. McIlroy, who shot 66, said the course setup created frustration early in the week but produced an entertaining tournament. He added that he had climbed out of an early hole and still felt he had a chance.

Schauffele called Sunday an absolute free-for-all.