2026 PGA Championship final-round guide: Tee times, top players in crowded leaderboard

Smalley, the unexpected 54-hole leader, finds himself in uncharted territory. For the first time in his PGA career, Smalley leads a tournament after three rounds, making it anyone's guess how he'll respond with the rest of the field chasing him on Sunday. In three previous PGA Championship appearances, Smalley's best finish is a tied for 23. Over his last 25 events, his best finish was a tie for second at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the only team event on the PGA Tour.

His final-round partner, Schmid, has an even less successful prior track record. He's in his first PGA Championship and fifth major overall, missing the cut at the 2019 Open and 2021 U.S. Open. He hasn't finished better than a tie for No. 59 at the 2021 Open. Schmid finds himself within striking distance of a first career PGA Tour win in large part because of his putter. Per the PGA Championship official website, he ranks seventh in strokes gained putting (1.819) while averaging 28.3 putts per round.

2:25 p.m. ET | Jon Rahm (-4); Nick Taylor (-4)

As the only golfer at four-under with a major championship under his belt, the stage won't be too big for Rahm, who has three top-10 finishes in his last six majors dating back to the 2024 Open. He also has two wins on the LIV Tour since March, including at Mexico City in mid-April. If Rahm wins his first Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday, it would put him an Open victory shy of the career grand slam.

Taylor, 38, made the weekend cut for just the fourth time in his last 14 major tournaments. He's been the best scrambler in the field this weekend — which has been key with Taylor tied for 58th in greens in regulation (62.96 percent) — saving par at an 85 percent rate. He'll need more birdies to emerge from the pack, but avoiding bogeys is a great way to stay in the hunt.

2:15 p.m. ET | Ludvig Åberg (-4); Aaron Rai (-4)

Åberg is one of the top current golfers without a grand slam title and has already had a career-best run at the PGA Championship after missing the cut in 2024 and 2025. The world's No. 15-ranked player has five top-10 finishes in his last six events dating back to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, including a tie for eighth in a tune-up to the year's second major at the 2026 Truist Championship. If Åberg finds confidence with his putter on Sunday, it could be game over for the rest of the field. Through 54 holes, he ranks first in strokes gained tee-to-green (3.328) but is an alarming No. 72 in strokes gained putting (-0.366), needing an averaging of 30.67 putts per round.

Rai's driving accuracy has been on full display this weekend, keeping him on schedule while delivering 5.3 birdies per round, which ties for first.

2:05 p.m. ET | Rory McIlroy (-3); Xander Schauffele (-3)

McIlroy, coming off a second consecutive Masters win, pushed himself into contention with a 66 on Saturday and could easily take command of the leaderboard with a repeat performance. Schauffele is seeking his second PGA Championship in three seasons, and like McIlroy, shot four-under in Round 3 to pull within striking distance and gain momentum heading into the final 18 holes.

1:55 p.m. ET | Maverick McNealy (-3); Patrick Reed (-3)

McNealy blew an opportunity to distance himself from the field on moving day, shooting a 71 for the round. He'll have to quickly regroup to win his first career major. Reed, meanwhile, is trending up after a third round 67. That's despite the 2018 Masters champ tying for 69th in driving accuracy (35.71 percent) for the round and reaching greens in regulation at a rate of 61.11 percent (tied for 48th). Reed was much better putting on Saturday than during the first two rounds, and that might be his saving grace if he earns his second career major title.