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Who is PGA Championship leader Alex Smalley? A player with the confidence he can win
On Saturday, Alex Smalley shot a 2-under 68 at Aronimink Golf Club to take a two-shot lead at the PGA Championship, entering Sunday at 4 under par for his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
A Duke graduate with a 3.6 GPA, Smalley earned his PGA Tour membership through the Korn Ferry Tour finals in 2021 after making the 2019 Walker Cup team but has yet to win as a professional.
His mother, Maria Smalley, masters an intricate statistical system tracking his performance, while father Terry Smalley provides support and Smalley works to emulate Adam Scott's swing tempo.
Sunday's final round pairs Smalley with Matti Schmid, offering a chance to secure his first major championship and hoist the Wannamaker Trophy in his fifth major start.
Despite trailing stars like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Jon Rahm, Smalley proved capable against elite competition by defeating Scheffler in a 5-and-4 victory at the 2018 NCAA Championships.