Pal in last duo could ease nerves for PGA leader Smalley
American Alex Smalley, the 54-hole leader, will play alongside German pal Matti Schmid in the final round of the PGA Championship (Carl Recine) Unheralded leader Alex Smalley has a pal in Sunday's final pairing of the PGA Championship, and that might just ease the nerves of fighting a host of major winners for a dream victory. The 29-year-old American, playing in only his fifth major, has a chance to make his first PGA Tour title a major after another solid round at difficult Aronimink. Smalley fired a two-under par 68 in Saturday's third round to grab a two-stroke lead on six-under 204 through 54 holes.
He made birdies on three of the last four holes for his third under-par round of the week and will be joined by Germany's Matti Schmid, in a pack on 206, in the last group. "I've played with Matti a few times," Smalley said. "I'm very familiar with him.
Matti and I actually paired up together in the New Orleans event three years ago. "We're good buddies. We're familiar with each other, so I think that will help both of us tomorrow as well.
I'm looking forward to that. " Schmid, like Smalley, has never won a PGA Tour title. It marks only the second time in 23 years a PGA Championship Sunday final pairing hasn't had a tour winner.
"Definitely not the center of attention, but I still have to focus on doing the things I have to do well enough," Schmid said. "Just focus on myself. Hopefully it leads to a really good round and then we'll see.