Smalley, McNealy Share PGA Lead at 4-Under 136 as Aronimink Keeps Field Within 8 Shots
Updated
Updated · ESPN · May 16
Smalley, McNealy Share PGA Lead at 4-Under 136 as Aronimink Keeps Field Within 8 Shots
11 articles · Updated · ESPN · May 16
Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy reached 4-under 136 through 36 holes, giving the PGA Championship two unexpected co-leaders at Aronimink.
Smalley shot 69 despite three straight back-nine bogeys and finished with a birdie, while McNealy posted 67 before two late bogeys cost him sole possession of the lead.
Aronimink's demanding setup kept the tournament compressed: the 36-hole lead was the highest in a PGA since 2012, and only eight shots separated first from last.
Rory McIlroy's bogey-free 67 still left him five back and outside the top 25, with Hideki Matsuyama, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Chris Gotterup also within range.
That tight leaderboard left even the cut-makers believing they remain in contention heading into the weekend on a course where no one has pulled away.
Can two major championship underdogs fend off golf's biggest stars on this historically difficult course?
Is Aronimink's classic design the perfect antidote to modern golf's power-hitting superstars?