05/15/26 06:39:00
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05/15 18:38 CDT Smalley and McNealy share PGA Championship lead with a long
list of stars on their heels
Smalley and McNealy share PGA Championship lead with a long list of stars on
their heels
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) --- The first PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club
in 64 years brought a pair of newcomers to the top of the leaderboard Friday in
Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy, and left hope for just about everyone else
to a course that won't let anyone get too far away.
Smalley, in only his fifth major championship, overcame three straight bogeys
after making the turn and closed with a birdie for a 1-under 69. McNealy, who
has never been among the top 25 in any major through 36 holes, fell back with a
pair of late bogeys in his round of 67.
They were at 4-under 136, the highest 36-hole score to lead the PGA
Championship since 2008 at Oakland Hills.
Chasing them? Everyone from Chris Gotterup and Hideki Matsuyama, defending
champion Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, even Masters champion Rory
McIlroy.
Such is Aronimink --- cold and blustery in the morning and getting faster by
the minute in the late afternoon --- that McIlroy was outside the top 25 after
a bogey-free 67 and still only five behind.
The difference between first and worst was only eight shots, unusually tight
for any tournament, much less a major.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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