PGA Championship 2026: Alex Smalley, still finding his way in pro golf, is tougher than you think
Alex Smalley hasn't won on the PGA Tour and is playing in just his fifth major. But being in contention at Aronimink isn't a surprise to those who know him best
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — For those of you who think Alex Smalley seems quiet, retreating or perhaps even a little meek on the course, former Duke head coach Jamie Green has a story for you. It's from 2018, when Duke had just seized the No.
2 seed at the NCAA Championship. As luck would have it, the Blue Devils’ quarterfinal opponent in match play would be a Texas team loaded with talent who had under-performed in stroke play. The five individual matches are set Presidents Cup style, with coaches pairing players one by one.
That’s when Green found himself having to decide who would face one of Texas' most intimidating stars—a powerhouse senior with a promising future in the professional game. But it wasn't a tough call for him, because he'd already planned for this exact scenario. "I intentionally put Alex Smalley against Scottie Scheffler," he said.
It was the lead-off match, and they played the first four holes all square before Smalley caught fire. He won holes 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12, and then halved 14 for a 5-and-4 victory. The momentum propelled Duke to 3-2 win, and a berth in the semifinals.
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