Alex Smalley Leads 2026 PGA Championship Amid Personal Spotlight

On Saturday, 29-year-old Alex Smalley posted a third-round 68 to sit at 6-under, two strokes ahead at Aronimink Golf Club. The score marks his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour and puts him in contention for the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.

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Smalley turned professional in 2019 after graduating from Durham. He qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills and has made three prior PGA Championship appearances, with a tie for 23rd in 2023 at Oak Hill as his best finish. Since joining the Tour in 2022, he has entered 140 events, made 85 cuts, and earned more than $10 million in prize money.

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Alex Smalley, a native of Greensboro, credits his parents, Terry and Maria, with caddying support throughout his career. Chelsea Groves serves as Duke Athletics’ director of social media, overseeing day-to-day platform operations and the men’s and women’s golf accounts. Groves holds a bachelor’s degree in sports media from Butler University and previously directed digital and social media at Stephen F. Austin.

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• Third-round 68, total 6-under after 54 holes

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• Two-shot lead, first such lead in Smalley’s PGA Tour career

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• Career totals: 140 events, 85 cuts, >$10 million earnings

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• Best PGA Championship finish: T-23, 2023

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When asked about his family’s presence, Smalley said his father had arrived from Greensboro that morning. He declined to comment on whether Groves would travel with him for the final round, emphasizing a desire to keep her out of the spotlight. Duke Athletics has not issued a comment on Groves’s tournament involvement.

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• “My dad flew up this morning from Greensboro. So he came in this morning,” — Alex Smalley, Professional Golfer

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• “In the season of feeling grateful.” — Chelsea Groves, Director of Social Media, Duke Athletics

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Smalley’s unexpected lead elevates him from a peripheral tour player to a headline contender, drawing heightened media attention to both his performance and his private relationship. The visibility may influence sponsorship considerations and future tournament invitations.

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No confirmation exists regarding Groves’s attendance on Sunday, and Smalley’s avoidance of the question leaves the matter unresolved. Neither Groves nor Duke Athletics have publicly addressed the possibility.

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The final round will determine whether Smalley can convert his lead into a first PGA Championship victory. Observers will note on-course presence of Groves, which could signal a new public dimension to the golfer’s personal life.

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