Alex Smalley heads into the final day of the PGA Championship with an unexpected lead, having recovered from a rough start to his third round. He managed a two-under 68, featuring seven birdies and five bogeys, which gives him a two-shot advantage over a tightly packed group of contenders.

Among those chasing Smalley are Jon Rahm and Ludvig Åberg, who are part of a five-way tie for second place. Aaron Rai, aiming to become the first English winner since 1919, sits one shot back, alongside Matti Schmid and Nick Taylor at four under. Rory McIlroy trails by three strokes, vying for back-to-back major victories.

The leaderboard is highly competitive, with 14 different players sharing the lead at various points during Saturday's round. Notably, just five strokes separate the top 30 players, underscoring the tournament's intensity.

McIlroy, currently at three under, is joined by Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed, and Maverick McNealy. Justin Rose is four back, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler has fallen five behind after consecutive rounds of 71.

Smalley's journey has been remarkable, as he faced early struggles but rallied with key birdies, including a 25-foot putt at the 15th. Despite a bogey at the 17th, he secured his first 54-hole lead as a professional with a final birdie on the last hole.

I've been in the final group before, but not on a stage like this,