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Maverick McNealy hits from the third fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
By The Canadian Press

Smalley and McNealy share PGA Championship lead with a long list of stars on their heels

May 15, 2026 | 4:42 PM

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 on 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 2012 at Kiawah Island (4-under 140).

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.

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The difference between first and worst was only eight shots, unusually tight for any tournament, much less a major.

“Anyone who makes the cut, they’ve got to feel they have a shot in the tournament,” McIlroy said.

Nick Taylor (72) of Abbotsford, B.C., and Corey Conners (73) of Listowel, Ont., were tied for 30th at 1-over par. Taylor Pendrith (72) of Richmond Hill, Ont., was just above the 4 over cut line.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., missed the cut.

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This version corrects it was the highest score since Kiawah Island in 2012

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press





by The Canadian Press

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