Blog334PGAC2- 3rd & FINAL RD May 16&17, 2026

Blog334PGAC2- 3rd & FINAL RD May 16&17, 2026

ROUND 3 This has turned into a great tournament as Aronimink has presented many problems and the 1st RD was full off non-contenders. Alex Smalley has hung in there.

I think Rahm has a good chance to win and it would be a satisfying one, with the LIV issues he has had to live with. However Smalley has shown that he can rebound and it would be a life changing victory for him.

1 A Smalley-6 69 Bogies 4 of 1st 8 holes, but 6 birdies on last 10 holes to finish.

Great story if he can win with 3 RTDs under 69 but will he fade?

2 J Rahm-4 68 Five birdies 2 bogies. Has 7 bogies 0 DBs, he is due for a PGA win.

This would be a great victory despite his decline at Majors since LIV.

2 L Alberg-4 69 Two bogies 4 birdies, no DB’s yet, but we will see in RD4.

2 N Taylor-4 66 Bogie free RD.

2 A Rai-4 68 Another surprise, but 10 bogies so far, may not make top 10.

2 M Schmid-4 66 only 1 bogie with 6 birdies, but like Rai may fade.

7 M McNealy-4 72 Missed his chance to put this away but starts with 8 pars then 3 bogies.

He has always played well at times but can’t seem to finish.

7 X Schefflele-4 68 Two bogies 6 birdies, has been inconsistent and not won since his 2024.

7 R McIlroy-4 68 AfterRD1 74, 67& 66. He may win.

7 P Reed-4 68 Two 5 birdies. He may find a way to win.

Amazing group in top 10 and I don’t think any of these players will win.

Players at-2, my pick from this group would be Chris Gotterup.

Mattsuyama & Rose maybe, Niemann & C Smith LIIV players, I don’t think so.

B Griffin, MW Lee, B Cauley, M Grayserman, C Kirk have not proven they can win the big one.

K Reitan (already had his moment of fame), M Kaymer, RD 2/75 killed him.

FINAL RD If Smalley can shoot -2 on 1st 2 holes, then -1 rest of the way for 67(his RD1 score) it would take a 65 from another in the field for a playoff and 64 to win. There were 5/ 65’s yesterday, 1 in RD 2, 0 in RD 1. Nobody has shot 64.

Smalley better birdie 2 of 1st 4 holes as the first 30 finishers had 10 players 68 or lower.

1 A Rai-9 65 After dropping to-3 after 8 holes he eagles 9 then 4 birdies 0 bogies.

He has not played well this year, In 10 tournaments 2 missed cuts #73 Pebble Beach,

48 Masters, Cut Players, 5th at Myrtle Beach(same week as Arnold Palmer).

Last year #93 FedX, so has full privileges but not all signature events (ie Arnold Palmer)

Only prior PGA win 2024 Wyndham (which has a weaker field as it is the week before the 1st

Tour Championship event.) In RD 4 he comes from 5 strokes behind Max Grayserman to win.

Earnings for 2026 up to PGA $496K, PGA $3.7M. He had 13 bogies and still won.

2 J Rahm-6 68 All 4 RDs Par or better, played well enough to win but for Rai’s final 10 holes.

2 A Smalley 70 We predicted if he birdies 2 of 1st 4 holes & bogies 6 instead of DB or pars 17 instead of bogie he would force a playoff, the way Rai played his last 8 holes, probably loses.

4 J Thomas-5 65 Clubhouse leader with 1 bogie 6 birdies, great tournament except for RD2.

4 M Schmid-5 69 Best performance in years, final group with Rai, both had 3 bogies.

4 L Aberg-5 69 Another disappointing performance, he has to learn how to close.

7 R McIlroy-4 69 Only bogie on #13 takes him out of it, won’t play again until Memorial.

7 X Schauffele-4 69 Bad RD2 six bogies puts him out of it.

10 P Reed-3 70 Finished 12th at Masters, had disappointing final RDs in both tournaments.

10 C Gotterup-3 69 Bogie free but only 1 birdie 17 pars.

14 S Scheffler-2 69 Three bogies 4 birdies, poor driving and putting, but he will win big soon.

18 J Spieth-1 68 Stayed away from DB’s and 10 bogies about average, putting an issue,

18 M McNealy-1 72 After 2 excellent RDs, 1 eagle 8 birdies, only 5 birdies and 1 DB last 2.

26 N TaylorE 74 He was tied for the lead after 5th hole then fell apart 1 birdie 6 bogies back9.