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The saying goes experience is the best teacher. If that’s the case, then an awful lot of tour pros are going to learn some lessons on Sunday at the 2026 PGA Championship.
Entering the final round at Aronimink Golf Club, Alex Smalley has a two-stroke edge on the field. However, there are 21 players within four strokes of his lead and given the turbulence seen on the leaderboard all week—14 different players held a share of the lead on Saturday—the final 18 holes are likely to be dramatic and unpredictable.
Among those nearly two dozen names are players with vastly different résumés. Smalley, for instance, has never led a PGA Tour event after 54 holes let alone won a tournament. Similarly, his playing partner in the final round, Matti Schmid, is competing in just his fourth major
Conversely, a little ways down the tee sheet there are the likes of multiple major champions Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
The obvious thought would be that those who already have competed in the heat of the battle on the Sunday of a major—and come out on top—have an edge on those who haven’t. But looking at the contrast between the players in the chase, the difference in their results is striking and extreme. Take a look at the chart for the leaders playing this afternoon:
Again, consider the contrast. While eight of the 22 have won a major championship, eight of the 22 have never had a top-10 finish in a major. Fourteen players don’t have as many starts in major championships as Rory McIlroy has top-10 finishes (34).
Smalley and Schmid are a particularly intriguing final group. They are familiar with each other from their college days and so that should make things a bit less stressful considering the circumstances.
“I've played with Matti a few times. I think we both graduated college in 2019,” Smalley said Saturday. “He played in Louisville in the ACC, so I'm very familiar with him. Matti and I actually paired up together in the New Orleans event three years ago, so we're good. We're good buddies. We're familiar with each other. So I think that will kind of help both of us tomorrow as well. I'm looking forward to that.”
MORE GOLF DIGEST PGA CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
PGA Championship 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the 2026 PGA Championship
Power Rankings: Every player in the PGA field, ranked
Why the PGA at Aronimink is a great fit for Philly’s everyman sports culture
What tour pros do before a major to prep
Video: Every hole at Aronimink
Bryson’s uncertain future
The crazy story of Walter Hagen and the lost Wanamaker Trophy
The most ‘PGA’ moments in PGA Championship history
Continue reading...
Entering the final round at Aronimink Golf Club, Alex Smalley has a two-stroke edge on the field. However, there are 21 players within four strokes of his lead and given the turbulence seen on the leaderboard all week—14 different players held a share of the lead on Saturday—the final 18 holes are likely to be dramatic and unpredictable.
Among those nearly two dozen names are players with vastly different résumés. Smalley, for instance, has never led a PGA Tour event after 54 holes let alone won a tournament. Similarly, his playing partner in the final round, Matti Schmid, is competing in just his fourth major
Conversely, a little ways down the tee sheet there are the likes of multiple major champions Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
The obvious thought would be that those who already have competed in the heat of the battle on the Sunday of a major—and come out on top—have an edge on those who haven’t. But looking at the contrast between the players in the chase, the difference in their results is striking and extreme. Take a look at the chart for the leaders playing this afternoon:
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Again, consider the contrast. While eight of the 22 have won a major championship, eight of the 22 have never had a top-10 finish in a major. Fourteen players don’t have as many starts in major championships as Rory McIlroy has top-10 finishes (34).
Smalley and Schmid are a particularly intriguing final group. They are familiar with each other from their college days and so that should make things a bit less stressful considering the circumstances.
“I've played with Matti a few times. I think we both graduated college in 2019,” Smalley said Saturday. “He played in Louisville in the ACC, so I'm very familiar with him. Matti and I actually paired up together in the New Orleans event three years ago, so we're good. We're good buddies. We're familiar with each other. So I think that will kind of help both of us tomorrow as well. I'm looking forward to that.”
MORE GOLF DIGEST PGA CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
PGA Championship 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the 2026 PGA Championship
Power Rankings: Every player in the PGA field, ranked
Why the PGA at Aronimink is a great fit for Philly’s everyman sports culture
What tour pros do before a major to prep
Video: Every hole at Aronimink
Bryson’s uncertain future
The crazy story of Walter Hagen and the lost Wanamaker Trophy
The most ‘PGA’ moments in PGA Championship history
Continue reading...
