In a tournament where the biggest names often steal the spotlight, it's two relative unknowns who are making headlines at the 108th PGA Championship. Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy—a pair of longshots with a combined zero PGA Tour wins—have unexpectedly seized the lead at Aronimink, proving that in golf, anything can happen.
Smalley, a 29-year-old from Rochester, New York, entered the second round with little fanfare. With no wins in 140 career Tour starts, he was the definition of an underdog. But on Friday, he played like a seasoned major champion, carding a 1-under 69 that included four birdies. His steady hand and sharp iron play—like a 147-yard approach to 9 feet on the fourth hole that set up a crucial birdie—brought him to 4-under 136, tied for the lead.
"I try not to look at the leaderboards, but they're right in your face," Smalley admitted with a grin. "It's hard to avoid." His best major finish remains a tie for 23rd at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, but his game has been trending upward. Seven top-25 finishes this season, including a runner-up in New Orleans and a seventh at Doral, suggest this breakthrough was brewing.
Still, the spotlight is new territory. "I don't love being in the spotlight," he confessed. "Playing in front of hundreds or thousands of people can be overwhelming. But I'm getting better at it." After a rough patch of three straight bogeys early on his back nine, Smalley rallied with birdies on the fourth and ninth, showing the resilience that defines champions.
Joining him at the top is Maverick McNealy, another unheralded talent who has quietly climbed the leaderboard. Together, they form an unlikely duo at the top of a major championship—a reminder that in golf, the biggest surprises often come from the most unexpected places.
As the weekend approaches at Aronimink, all eyes will be on these two longshots. Can they sustain their magic? For fans of the game—and your wardrobe—it's the perfect time to gear up with fresh PGA Championship apparel and celebrate the underdog spirit that makes golf so thrilling.